Review: Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Unravel Me

Author: Tahereh Mafi
Pages:461
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: February 5th 2013
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it's almosttime for war.
Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.
She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.
Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.
In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

My Take:

Ever since Juliette can remember she has been used this way or that way and even though she knows she is safe she still feels being cautious is easier. At first she was on bored with everything and willing to fight for the cause. But being at the center of attention and everyone finding out who she is and what she can do is tough. Are they still willing to risk themselves for her. Having the power she has is risky and even finding how she can us it puts not only her but the people she cares about at risk.

Of course things change once word gets out that Warner is searching for her personally. With time being lost to her training and helping out as possible as she can, Castle feels that her being there is sparking a revolution on the outside. So even though one threat is looking for her, there is also the fact that Warner's father is their as well. He only wants one thing and that is to end all the nonsense of war. Even though they are together, can the people who have been cast out spark a new revolution for the people too scared to try. Or will the Reestablishment put an end to them all even as valuable as Juliette is, can not foresee what is to happen if or when things go wrong.

While reading Unravel Me, I couldn't help but wonder how powerful one government can be. Even though  Juliette is learning how to harvest her power, its still tough being put on for everyone to see. She is valuable and when she is not letting her emotions cloud her, her power can drive any one to retreat. When you gain something its hard to lose it again and even though everyday is still a struggle at least Juliette has people who are willing to stand beside her. 

5/5 Stars - Still epic and still Team Adam

Review: Life Before Legend by Marie Lu

Life Before Legend

Author: Marie Lu
Pages:38
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Release Date: January 15th 2013
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Find out more about June and Day in this never-before-seen glimpse into their daily lives before they met in Marie Lu’s New York Times bestselling LEGEND series. As twelve-year-olds struggling to survive in two very different worlds within the Republic’s stronghold, June was starting her first day of school at Drake University as the youngest cadet ever admitted, and Day was fighting for food on the streets of the Lake sector. LIFE BEFORE LEGEND contains two original stories written by Marie Lu that give readers a sneak peek into the lives of their favorite characters in a thrilling new context.

My Take:

Before there was Legend, as a twelve year old boy Day had to survive the streets of the Lake sector. His knee is wounded and tries to help those he nows needs it. Taking a job for a couple days we see how Day spent his early days surviving. With a little help from a girl who is just a little older than him, Day can't help but imagine life not on the run a setting up their on the lake. Of course dreams don't always come true and Day has first hand knowledge of this.

Drake University is the place every citizen wishes to get into but starting at the age of twelve can be tough. For June being the only Prodigy is privilege and shouldn't be taken lightly. but do you expect when you enter a school reserved with teens who look down at her and not up. Starting trouble is one of June's strong suits and even when its the first day. Of course being late to the first day is not her fault but the school seems to think it is. 

Life Before Legend, offers a chance to look into the lives of June and Day before they met and before their true story can be said. They both seem to adjust and know that survival is key. Of course both live in separate areas and gain a different experience, both are learning skills that help them become the Legend they are meant to be.  

5/5 stars - Extraordinary

Review: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me

Author: Tahereh Mafi
Pages:338
Publisher: Harper
Release Date: November 15th 2011
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Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.
The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war– and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

My Take:

To be isolated where no one is present, walls every which way and of course a window so that could look at what if or could be. Juliette hasn't seen anyone or spoken to anyone in 264 days, she is given one meal a day and is keep at a distance because of what she can do. The Reestablishedment promised to fix things instead they made fake promises and put everyone at risk. Juliette is lost to them and is wastes away inside a cell waiting, until someone else is thrown into her cell as well. She keeps distance, who is this person, why is he here, and what makes him so familiar to her. 

Adam that is his name and he keeps asking questions until, the room is bombarded into and the truth of how Adam came to be in her room. He is a trained soldier for the Reestablishedment and his mission was to make sure she hasn't gone completely insane. The one person she was getting used to betrayed her and all because of an experiment. The one in charge Warren, wants to use her as a weapon to use on rebel resistance. Adam is her charge and even though she recognizes him doesn't mean she is as safe as they want her to be. 

Juliette doesn't want to be used, but when you add in Warren and his methods its hard to escape. Not being able to touch anything is hard to impossible, so when Adam takes a risk and touches her its hard not to cheer. But also cautious, questions pop and even though its all good escaping from the place is hard because of all the weapons that can stop not only her but Adam. Within the first 5 minutes of reading you know your in for a wonderful ride. With every word your also wondering things could never get better. Flip a few pages and your in for a thrilling roller coaster. Tahereh Mafi is a brilliant master in this craft of writing because even though words are repeated you feel closer to Juliette than ever. Your enchanted with the possibility of a future without Juliette using her power to kill. Of course when your given a wonderful lead male who is trained not to even stand her but ultimately falls for, you have to think where else can Mafi take us and how much am I willing to cry. Because with this it was hard not to cry in certain places. The audience will want more and they get it in Unravel Me which just came out the 5th of February.

5/5 stars

I got to meet Tahereh Yay!!!!

Review: Touch of Death by Kelly Hashway

Touch of Death

Author: Kelly Hashway
Pages:229
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Release Date: January 15th 2013
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Source: Sent by the Publisher

Jodi Marshall isn't sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she's in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she's being stalked by some guy no one seems to know. 

After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he's not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she's part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendants of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins. 

Jodi's deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn't difficult enough, Jodi discovers she's the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can't figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.

My Take:

When you touch someone you feel connected and close to that person, what if that feeling was taken away because your touch was deadly. Being home schooled for Jodi wasn't all bad, and high school is another world all together. But with one simple crash, everything changed not knowing your blood can bring back the dead can be a little difficult to explain. But with everything surrounding Jodi and the accidents, its hard not to come to the solution and having a stalker isn't nice either. Alex aka her stalker has been on her since that day of the deer accident and even though she has a boyfriend willing to scare him away she still feels something is all happy times. Put your self in her shoes, someone you don't know tells you not to kiss someone, you ignore right.Would you believe someone who said your not even human, I didn't think so. Finally after some time, Jodi realizes  what Alex is telling her, and must learn how to control her 'power'.

Ever get a creepy feeling when everyone is too nice, entering that mansion of a home, their she learns that maybe her being an Ophi is a good thing. Through in a girl who doesn't like her the moment she comes and wants at nothing to prove that Jodi isn't so special. Who knew being a descendent of Medusa would strive even the greediest of people to turn against her. With time running out and a god wanting them, Jodi must come up with a plan to help all Ophi before they cease to exist. 

I love greek mythology so with Jodi's story I felt everything she felt, betrayed and also hopeful for a good ending. Of course this is only the beginning. Hashway brings you in and doesn't ever let yew go, if I had a stalker like Alex I don't know if I would let him in, who am i kidding of course I would let him in. I don't know how Jodi was able to not break down and cry, she is strong and has an amazing heart. I would hate to be resurrected back into my decaying body and live a life of servitude with no thoughts. Jodi senses it and strives to change things, she has this leadership quality and Im so looking forward to book 2 Stalked by Death coming out in July, the waiting begins. 

5/5 stars  

Review: Losing It by Cora Carmack

Losing It

Author: Cora Carmack
Pages:204
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Release Date: October 15th 2012
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Source: Bought

Virginity.

Bliss Edwards is about to graduate from college and still has hers. Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, she decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible-- a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half-a-brain would ever believe. And as if if that weren't embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theatre professor. She'd left him naked in her bed about 8 hours earlier.

My Take:

When in college there is so much expected of you, especially for Bliss Edwards even when your major is acting its hard to pretend you've done the deed. Of course when you meet a hot guy and he seems interested a girl can do only one thing right, invite him in. But for Bliss she invited him in and sent him packing, thinking she at least will never have to see the hot british guy. Wrong!!! It turns out that Garrick is her Professor and of course the chemistry between the two is easy enough to follow. Things shouldn't get any worse right…..

The acting comes in handy, and every which way Bliss is trying to be the good student and not start anything, except of course when Garrick has to step in because one of her classmates decides to do more than what he is expected of. Who knew a jealous Garrick would lead to a romance that is not right. Time of course is speeding up and the end of her college career is coming to an end will Garreck wait for her or will he leave her wanting what she should've had all that time before.

Losing it felt so right for me, loved the fact that even though she sent home a lovely guy, she did it for herself. The lies of course got tough because the cat didn't exist. Garreck of course was perfect, someone anyone would fall all over, Bliss even did, and not allowing oneself the hot british guy feels lonely. I also loved the fact that even though this is New Adult it felt good to read and I had a blast knowing the both of them. 

5/5 Stars

Review: V is for Virgin by Kelly Oram

V is for Virgin

Author: Kelly Oram
Pages:360
Publisher: Bluefields
Release Date: December 11th 2012
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Source: ARR

When Val Jensen gets dumped for her decision to stay a virgin until marriage, the nasty breakup goes viral on YouTube, making her the latest internet sensation. 

After days of ridicule from her peers, Val starts a school-wide campaign to rally support for her cause. She meant to make a statement, but she never dreamed the entire nation would get caught up in the controversy. 

As if becoming nationally recognized as “Virgin Val” isn’t enough, Val’s already hectic life starts to spin wildly out of control when bad boy Kyle Hamilton, lead singer for the hit rock band Tralse, decides to take her abstinence as a personal challenge.

How can a girl stay true to herself when this year’s Sexiest Man Alive is doing everything in his power to win her over?

My Take:

Ever feel pressured to do what is 'in' at that moment, even when you know you don't want too. Breaking up is hard, for Val its harder because she made a promise to herself and she wants to keep it.  Being a virgin in this day in age stinks, Val knows what she wants and so she sets forth to making sure her stance is heard all over the place. Out of the blue Val goes viral and her stance becomes news worthy, next thing she is being asked out by the hottest musician, Kyle Hamilton, and also given a once in a lifetime opportunity to be the face of Not Everyone Is Not Doing It. But with stardom comes draws and the attention from angry fans Tralse and of course hate from fans on the chat forums set for those who want to talk anonymously. Life hasn't been easy for Val and things are just starting for her, who knew an idea can spark into a national news. 

Of course the benefits is being able to talk about being a virgin and also having a jewelry line for 'Virgin Val', the only thing is what if the cause is too big for one person to take on all at once. Val realizes this and even though she doesn't enjoy the counters with Kyle she can't help but smile once in awhile. But to always at the center of everything, and of course Kyle making every move possible to get a reaction out of her, who can get used to the cameras. At least friends do help and since she started the in crowd has acknowledged her into their group and being popular and in helps. Who would have thought a girl would stand up for what she believes in and show her true self to everyone and not lose focus of her values.

This was such a joy to read because of the pressure a lot of high school students have to face each day. This day and age sex is every where and not like it used to be, guys can be either nice or hateful towards your decision. I liked the fact that her friends and school supported her and Val was able to share her side on things. I wish I had the guts to stand on a table and say what I want to say, Val showed her true self and stayed true to that. Virgin Val will definitely be one of my tops because the way it handle the issue at hand. This was so worth the read and I had a blast getting to know Val and how she was able to stay true to herself. 

5/5 Stars- swoon worthy

Review: A Matter of Circumstance and Celludrones by Claire Robyns

A Matter of Circumstance and Celludrones (Dark Matters #1)

Author: Claire Robyns
Pages:208
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 24th 2012
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Available for Order: Amazon|Goodreads

Source: ARR

A Victorian Steampunk/Paranormal adventure with strong elements of romance...
Lady Lily d'Bulier is prim, proper, and prefers to think of herself as pragmatic rather than timid. And avoiding life-threatening situations at all costs is just plain practical. But everything changes when Lord Adair tracks her down in London; searching for answers he seems to think she has.

Greyston Adair is a blackguard and a smuggler, although British Customs will have to catch him red-handed to prove the latter. Fortunately, the dirigibles they float around in have never been able to get near his air dust.

Hell is rising, One Demon at a Time...

With Lady Ostrich hunting them, and the mystery of how their lives tie back to Cragloden Castle and the powerful McAllister clan, Lily has no option but to throw propriety to the wind and run off with Greyston to Scotland, away from the immediate danger and toward possible answers.

My Take:

Ever wonder what life was like for people living in the age that flight was being experimented on and to travel places you needed a carriage, no traffic at all. Lady Lily d'Bulier lives as such and waiting to be asked to marry. Of course life can be a bit strange when you own a Celludrone, a type of robot made to protect those they are given too. Greyston Adair comes along and needs to protect her as well because being attacked by a witch makes anyone want to leave right away. If only they can run from Lady Ostrich who is hell bent on getting her and of course him as well. With limited answers and even more limited places of hiding, time is running out and finding out your special can put any damper on your way. 

They both learn that the day they were supposed to die was the time that all children like them were there for one purpose help stop demons from destroying everything. Their story together has just begun and getting to Cragloden Castle will help them realize their fate is even bigger than what they thought it was. Sacrifices will need to be made when the fate of the earth is on the two of them to gain the strength to fight on. 

A Victorian style setting was lovely all around, Lily and Adair journey was magical and even though it was different than any of its nature, it had me smiling and even encouraging them to fight on. Adair is the type that knows he needs to protect Lily and his power to go back 30 minutes has come in handy plenty of times. I had a great time reading this Victorian age story and hopes it continues on.

5/5 Stars