The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers

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Book summary:

Seventeen-year-old Jocelyn follows clues apparently from her dead twin, Jack, in and around Seale House, the terrifying foster home where they once lived. With help from childhood friend Noah she begins to uncover the truth about Jack's death and the company that employed him and Noah.
Jocelyn's twin brother Jack was the only family she had growing up in a world of foster homes-and now he's dead, and she has nothing. Then she gets a cryptic letter from "Jason December"-the code name her brother used to use when they were children at Seale House, a terrifying foster home that they believed had dark powers. Only one other person knows about Jason December: Noah, Jocelyn's childhood crush and their only real friend among the troubled children at Seale House.
But when Jocelyn returns to Seale House and the city where she last saw Noah, she gets more than she bargained for. Turns out the house's powers weren't just a figment of a childish imagination. And someone is following Jocelyn. Is Jack still alive? And if he is, what kind of trouble is he in? The answer is revealed in a shocking twist that turns this story on its head and will send readers straight back to page 1 to read the book in a whole new light.

         Even though, I'm always going on about how I want to read some mystery stories, I never to. Why? Well, first they usually aren't that mysterious and well I do watch plenty of TV crime shows, so I kinda of need a break sometimes. But it turned out that a real mystery has found me now. Go figure.

        Speaking about OTP! So, it's not a strange thing that I love damaged characters in my stories, so when I got to meet Jocelyn here we clicked from the start. There is just something in that girl that I'd love to hug. She is been through hell and back, and you can see it. She is not your kickass strong girl all the time, she is, to put it simply human. Right after she got back and met with Noah I was instantly captivated. It's just match made in heaven. I really loved how they got back to living with their past and getting to know each other again. Well, I kinda went all squee and ahhh whenever they appeared on the page together.

        Mystery is mysterious! Yeah, you don't hear this a lot, but honestly I couldn't predict absolutely nothing here. I just kept reading and whenever some big twist happened I just had to stop. It's everything from slowly revealing their past to the all Jack's mystery clues game. Not to talk about the ending, which is simply mind-blow.

        Throw in some really good writing and nice organization, when you get past revealed little by little and twist happening one at the time and well you won't be surprised to see my rating. I had no idea that I'd grow to love this so much. But I'm so happy I did. Hopefully you will too.

Rating: 5 stars.

Until the next time,

Waiting on Wednesday (#133)

You know the story. This is a meme created by Breaking the Spine and every week we pick books we're waiting for. Here are our picks for this week.

We can't wait to read...

End of Days is the explosive conclusion to Susan Ee’s bestselling Penryn & the End of Days trilogy. After a daring escape from the angels, Penryn and Raffe are on the run. They’re both desperate to find a doctor who can reverse the twisted changes inflicted by the angels on Raffe and Penryn’s sister. As they set off in search of answers, a startling revelation about Raffe’s past unleashes dark forces that threaten them all.

When the angels release an apocalyptic nightmare onto humans, both sides are set on a path toward war. As unlikely alliances form and strategies shift, who will emerge victorious? Forced to pick sides in the fight for control of the earthly realm, Raffe and Penryn must choose: Their own kind, or each other?

Happy reading,

 

Beautiful Redemption by Jamie McGuire

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My rating: 2.5 stars

Book summary:

"No-nonsense Liis Lindy is an agent of the FBI. Deciding she is married only to her job, she breaks off her engagement and transfers from Chicago to the field office in San Diego. She loves her desk. She is committed to her laptop. She dreams of promotions and shaking hands with the director after cracking an impossible case.

Special Agent in Charge Thomas Maddox is arrogant, unforgiving, and ruthless. He is tasked with putting away some of the world’s toughest criminals, and he is one of the best the Bureau has to offer. Though, as many lives as he’s saved, there is one that is beyond his reach. Younger brother Travis is faced with prison time for his involvement in a basement fire that killed dozens of college students, and the media want a conviction. Travis’s only savior is his unusual tie to the mob. In a deal that will spare his brother, Thomas has agreed to recruit Travis into the FBI.

Liis is stubborn, defiant, and yet somehow softens Thomas’s rough edges, making her the perfect agent to accompany him to the ceremony. Posing as a couple, they must travel to Travis & Abby’s beach vow renewal and give him the news, but when the pretending ends, she finds herself wondering if they were pretending at all."

Short?
      It was okay, but main female character was so damn annoying.

 Longer version? Here we go...

 

      I was probably among first hundred people who read and loved Beautiful Disaster, before whole "new adult wave" and x-number of Travis Maddox rip-offs. Yes, I did read all sequels because, let's be honest here - all of us have that one series we keep reading no matter the fact that it's not good as the "original" story. Jamie McGuire and her Maddox Brothers are that for me.

So, what happened with Beautiful Redemption?

       At first, I was excited because, finally, setting of the story is not college or underground fighting circles, characters are older and it looked as if it would have more suspense elements.
      Um... No! It is, after all, Jamie McGuire who, along with S.C. Stephens, writes the most annoying female characters you can imagine. But seriously, they are begging you to hate them.

 
       Liis Lindy is an agent of the FBI and she is supposed to be this tough, bad-ass girl who takes down bad guys with her mad skills. Well, for someone who is "the best in her field of work", she acts like immature teenage girl who throws tamper tantrums because shade of her nail polish doesn't match her current mood.  

Whole book is rinse and repeat of following:

1. Let's have sex.  
2. Let's ignore the fact that we had sex.  
3. Act like a jealous girlfriend/boyfriend even though we agreed we won't do relationship.
4. Let's have sex again. But just because our super important, secret mission. Yeah, that's the reason... And when can we repeat it again?
5. I know that I said that we will not be couple, but let me be complete bitch because you still haven't gotten over your ex-girlfriend.   
6. Repeat number 3.  
7. Repeat number 4.  
8. Repeat number 5.
9. Again number 5.  
10. Repeat... okay you get the point.

       Considering all alpha male melodrama that follows every Maddox brother, Thomas is quite tame compared to his brothers. That is probably one of the rare good things in Beautiful Redemption. We finally get a different character. Premise of the story was really good, but I have to admit that I couldn't follow many FBI related details. It was confusing and rushed. Especially in the end.

      I did enjoy reading this novel - as I said, I just can't resist Maddox clan and I can rant until the end of the world, but I will still read every new sequel. Beautiful Redemption had potential to be the best so far, but sadly it failed.

Where the Road Takes Me by Jay McLean

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My rating: 3.5 stars

Book summary:

"Chloe has one plan for the future, and one plan only: the road. She’s made a promise to herself: don’t let anyone in, and don’t let anyone love her. She’s learned the hard way what happens if she breaks her rules. So she’s focused on being invisible and waiting until she can set out on the road—her dream of freedom, at least for a little while.

Blake Hunter is a basketball star who has it all—everything about him looks perfect to those on the other side of his protective walls. He can’t let anyone see the shattered pieces behind the flawless facade or else all his hopes and dreams will disappear.

One dark night throws Chloe and Blake together, changing everything for Blake. For Chloe, nothing changes: she has the road, and she’s focused on it. But when the so-called perfect boy starts to notice the invisible girl, they discover that sometimes with love, no one knows where the road may lead."

My first book by Jay McLean.  

Expectations? Sweet love story. Roadtrip. (I love roadtrips.) Probably predictable.

   

Reality? I got scared after I saw few not so positive reviews, but I still read it. I was right - it was predictable and full of cliches. I liked it despite that. Yes, it is melodramatic. Yes, some things were over the top. But if you liked, for example, Slammed by Colleen Hoover, I am sure that you will like this book as well.  

What I liked? Where The Road Takes Me is an emotional read. At least for me. I could relate to Chloe and her fear because of family medical history, ignoring something that everyone thinks is the most logical thing to do and choosing to live in blissful ignorance as long as you can. It is easy to "be smart" when you are not in that situation yourself. There is nothing more scarier than seeing "positive" at the bottom of The Paper - one word that has power to turn upside down your whole life. Chloe might seem like someone who tells that she wants to do one thing, but at times acts completely differently - that is one more thing I understand. You want to make yourself believe in something so hard because you know that it would be so much easier, and you are still not able to give up on small things that are taken for granted, so you tell yourself: "Maybe just this time. Just once. And then I'll move on." As I already said, roadtrip. Going from one place to another, diving in the car, stopping whenever you see something interesting, meeting new people that you probably won't see again, but still making an effort, sleeping in motels along the road, eating junk food, making out in the backseat of the car... So many things that I recognized as my own experience. It is probably cliche and predictable, but for me it was real because I have done all of those things.  

Things that bothered me... a little. Instant love, a lot of usual tropes you will find in any book full of teen angst and drama - I won't tell much more to avoid spoilers, but you will know what I am talking about as soon as you read the book. Also, I have a feeling like there are three overlapping stories and that some parts could have been more detailed. Some secondary characters (mainly Clayton) deserved more space, and because of lack of character development instead of using archetype descriptions, I wasn't able to relate to their role in the story.
  
Who should read this book? Fans of so called "emotional roller coaster" stories, hipster love songs and Slammed by Collen Hoover (if you compare this two books, there's nothing similar when it comes to the storyline, but they same atmosphere).

Happy reading,

 *Book provided by author in exchange for an honest review.*

Sunday Post (#42)

Hello all. Well, as some of you know Sundays are always reserved for Sunday Post which is a meme created by lovely Kim @Caffeinated Book Reviews!

Hello, lovelies! Sunday Post is usually something Tanja does, but today we are doing things a little bit differently. And obviously we are late with today's post.

Tanja is spending a weekend visiting family, she had one important exam and not much free time. Glass on the other hand was all about reading - so many great titles is coming out out this month, I don't even know how I'll manage to read them all. Plus, we are so slaking with blogging, it's not even funny anymore. But we do hope that you understand us. Every once in a while, all of us need a break.

Just one more thing before you go.

THANK YOU!!!

I woke up this morning to so many wonderful birthday wishes. You ladies, are my rock stars!

•  (ARC Review) The Ruby Airship (The Diamond Thief #2) by Sharon Gosling
• (ARC Review) Collide by Melissa West 
• Waiting on Wednesday (#132) 
• (ARC Review) The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand 

We have few reviews, maybe Bookish Problems post... As I said: we've been lazy.

Happy Sunday,

(ARC Review) The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand

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Author's:

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Expected publication date: February 10th, 2015, Harper Teen

My rating: 5 stars

Book summary:

"There's death all around us.
We just don't pay attention.
Until we do.

The last time Lex was happy, it was before. When she had a family that was whole. A boyfriend she loved. Friends who didn't look at her like she might break down at any moment.

Now she's just the girl whose brother killed himself. And it feels like that's all she'll ever be.

As Lex starts to put her life back together, she tries to block out what happened the night Tyler died. But there's a secret she hasn't told anyone-a text Tyler sent, that could have changed everything.

Lex's brother is gone. But Lex is about to discover that a ghost doesn't have to be real to keep you from moving on."

      All of us know Cynthia Hand because of her brilliant Unearthly trilogy - my favorite paranormal young adult series about angels. It came as a surprise when I saw that her new novel will be more on realistic side.Truth to be told, I was worried because I ended up disappointed with several authors who took turn from paranormal to realistic fiction. But this is Cynthia Hand, so shouldn't have any doubts from the start. The Last Time We Say Goodbye deserves more than five stars.


      Not the easiest book to read. I finished The Last Time We Say Goodbye in three i the morning and I just sat there in my bed, completely wrecked, fighting with the urge to go into the next room, wake up my sister and tell her how much I love her and how happy I am that I have her and that I'm sorry for every time I hurt her feelings.  I don't remember the last time a book made me cry - this was such an emotional and heartbreaking story about love and loss. Letting go and forgiving are two hardest things to do, especially if the person we need to forgive is ourselves. 

      Told from the perspective of a girl whose brother committed a suicide, The Last Time We Say Goodbye is at the same time story about those who were left behind and a boy who took his own life. Don't expect some magical romance that will make everything better for Lex and help her to move on. Lex has to find way to deal with things on her own and that is exactly what she does, everything is focused on her inner struggles and interaction with her friends who don't know how to get to her.  

      This is not autobiographic novel. That is something that Cynthia Hand points out in the note at end of the book, but it probably wasn't easy for her to write about something like this. I just want to say thank you for writing it. 

      Final judgement? Heartfelt, deep and beautiful young adult novel that will make you appreciate your siblings more and feel pain for those who lost them. Absolute must-read!

Happy reading,

 

*ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!*

If you think this review is helpful, please, consider liking it on Goodreads.

Waiting on Wednesday (#132)

You know the story. This is a meme created by Breaking the Spine and every week we pick books we're waiting for. Here are our picks for this week.

We can't wait to read...

 The epic conclusion to Richelle Mead's New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series is finally here...

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

After their secret romance is exposed, Sydney and Adrian find themselves facing the wrath of both the Alchemists and the Moroi in this electrifying conclusion to Richelle Mead’s New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series. When the life of someone they both love is put on the line, Sydney risks everything to hunt down a deadly former nemesis. Meanwhile, Adrian becomes enmeshed in a puzzle that could hold the key to a shocking secret about spirit magic, a secret that could shake the entire Moroi world.

Expected publication date: February 10th, 2015

Happy Wednesday,

 

(ARC Review) Collide by Melissa West

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Author's 

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Book summary:

Military legacy Ari Alexander has survived alien spies, WWIV, and a changing world order. But when the new leader of Earth uses Jackson—the only boy she's ever let herself care about—to get to her, Ari has no choice but to surrender. 
To free Jackson, she agrees to travel to the national bases to train others to fight. What she discovers is a land riddled with dying people. Ari has the power to heal by turning the fighters into aliens—half-breeds like her. If she succeeds, together, they have a chance at overthrowing the alien leader, Zeus. But if she fails, everyone she holds dear will be wiped away forever.
Once again, everything Ari’s come to believe is thrown into question. In a world of uncertainty, loyalties are tested, lies are uncovered, and no one can be trusted. If Ari and Jackson have any hope at survival and at preserving a life for the future, they must fight the final war with their eyes wide open. 

         It was 2012  when I first saw the Gravity cover and fell for this series. It was the same year when my journey with this series started. Since then I got to see different worlds, planets and characters. Now, three years later it has come to an end.

         What started then as promising start of a new series, continued in Hover and while it took some time for me to get to the war part, here we are. After all ups and down and traveling across the universe, we're in for the final battle. Ari and Jackson feel that the attack is close and knowing Zeus it'll be all but predictable. They must find the way and inner strength to save the planet and find a way to start again.

          While Collide was certainly a great closing to this series, it wasn't without flaws this time. But first good parts, besides war that I've been eagerly waiting for I strongly believe that West has amazing ability to create swoon worthy characters. Beside Ari with whom I had great connection I must say that her moments with Jackson made me swoon so much. It was so sweet and innocent that I was all fluffy. I loved whenever the two of them were together, even for a short time.

        Speaking of flaws there is one, and it's that first part of this book was a little too slow for me. It was all building up to the great battle, but at the same time prolonging it all the time. I really am patient person, but sometimes I just had to say get to it already.

        Second thing that I wanted to put as flaw actually already being fixed. I still want to know how did the first attack happen, which is not revealed here to the detail. But fear not, Surge, the prequel to this series will probably fix that for all of us. I know that I will be waiting eagerly.

Rating: 4 stars.

Until the next time,

*NOTE: Copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher, Entangled Teen! Thank you!

(ARC Review) The Ruby Airship (The Diamond Thief #2) by Sharon Gosling

Buy the book at 

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

Author's 

Blog / Facebook / Twitter

Book summary:

Trapeze-artist Rémy has left the circus and her life as a thief, but she doubts that detective Thaddeus Rec will ever truly trust her. Feeling torn between her new life and her old, Rémy decides to return to France and her old circus with Yannick, an old friend who unexpectedly appears.
Meanwhile, Thaddeus is sure that Yannick is up to no good. He's determined to find them and win Rémy back, even if he must risk a journey by airship to do so.

       How you ever felt a bit biased for some book even though you are not the one who wrote it? To some extend I feel that way towards this series. Ever since the first book I somehow felt connection to this series as it has all I want it to have. I will tell you what later on.

       First I need to say that being back in Remy's skin is what I craved for some time. This girl is what I like in YA, she is brave, smart and very funny, but still with flaws and wrong decisions. That's life, my friends. I again felt this pretty magic of Victorian London, but traveling to France was what made me like it even more. In The Diamond Thief I have seen all the magic of circus which made me go back to my childhood, but this time I was all for new adventures and I adventures I got!

       I could find the source of Remy's insecurity in her age, and same goes for Thaddeus, and even though they had to grow up fast still it made them really vulnerable which shows in this book. It led to the undesirable circumstances which both of them had to fight against in order to find each others. Another great thing in this book is that we do get a third party here in Yannick, but not for a second it felt like a love triangle to me.

      So if you need a dose of magic, mystery and sweet and loving romance and all that with humor and witty comebacks from our main characters and some really interesting side characters then you should dive into this book. Don't blame me if you feel like you're a bit old for this kind of story, because let's not discuss my mental age. You just need to feel young at heart.

Rating: 5 stars.

Until the next time,

The Sunday Post (#41)

Hello all. Well, as some of you know Sundays are always reserved for Sunday Post which is a meme created by lovely Kim @Caffeinated Book Reviews!

Hello you! We hope that you've had a great week. It's been good for us, even though Glass was ill and Tanja had to study. We've been busy, but still we managed to read a book or two (or five). Also we hope that this blizzard is not that serious now. Even if it's we hope you have enough books by your side. We got some snow, but nothing serious. In the meantime we got to read some really interesting things, which we cannot wait to share with you. So let's start.

• Chasing Tide by A. Meredith Walters 
• Running Barefoot by Amy Harmon
• Waiting on Wednesday (#131)
• Quote of the Week: Burned by Karen Marie Moning
• Bookish Problems #19 - Spread Love, Not War 

• The Ruby Airship by Sharon Gosling (ARC Review) 
• Collide by Melissa West (ARC Review) 
• Waiting on Wednesday (#132) 
• Burned by Karen Marie Moning
• The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand (ARC Review) 

Thank you: Random House Children 

Love,