[ARC Review] Sketchy by Olivia Samms

Sketchy
The Bea Catcher Chronicles

Olivia Samms
April 30, 2013

Amazon Children's Publishing

ARC courtesy of Amazon Children's
Publishing via Netgalley                                                          

Amazon/Book Depository/B&N

Bea's life has been a mess ever since she got kicked out of private school and sent to rehab. Now clean, Bea is starting over at Packard High School, in a city shaken from two assaults on young women. The latest victim, Willa Pressman-the one who survived-doesn't remember a thing. But Bea has a disturbing new "skill": she can see-and then draw-images from other people's minds. And when she looks at Willa, Bea is shocked by what she sketches. Bea might be the only one who knows Willa's secrets-and who can take down the killer before he strikes again.


After finishing this book about a girl named Bea that can see the thoughts of others when she draws, I have to say for me this book was just okay.  It wasn't bad but it was kind of predictable and the mystery was easy to figure out.  The book is about Bea who was a drug addict and is starting over.  In her new school though the homecoming queen and been beaten and raped and Bea is the only one who can see what Willa is hiding.  Bea decides to connect with Willa, using her gift help catch the killer. 

Sketchy was fast paced and I liked Bea she felt real.  I liked that she was trying to staying clean and parts of Bea's personality reminding of Veronica Mars.  I could totally see this book as series a on the CW because it had murder, mystery, and even alludes to an illicit attraction.  I really liked that the pictures Bea draws were illustrated in the book it really made it feel like I was reading Bea's journal and getting insight into what makes her tick.  I felt like I could connect with Bea because she definitely had faults but she is a good person just trying to do the right thing.

In the end I felt the mystery fell flat.  It was easy to solve and for me there just wasn't a whole lot of suspense.  That is why I give Sketchy three laser pistols, I like Bea but the mystery was kind of lacking.  I will probably check more from this series because I am intrigued by Bea and what other conundrums she might find herself pulled into. I recommend Sketchy if you are looking for a quick and easy, beach day, kind of read. 

[WINNER] THE ELITE GIVEAWAY

The winner of our THE ELITE giveaway was GINA H.

An email was sent to the individual that was immediately returned. Please contact Fry at literatishuffle@gmail.com as soon as possible with your address.

If I haven't heard from Gina in a week, I'll pick a new winner.

Thank you all for entering.

[Book Review] Werewolves be Damned by Stacey Kennedy

Werewolves be Damned
Magic and Mayhem #1
Stacey Kennedy
April 15th, 2013
Entangled: Edge

Amazon/Book Depository/B&N

Nexi Jones—part witch, part guardian, and wannabe kick-ass warrior—can’t throw a punch or conjure the simplest magic. But that doesn’t stop her from hunting the werewolves who slaughtered her human family. She’ll have her revenge, but only if Kyden, the elite guardian, would get the hell out of her way.

Kyden can’t decide if Nexi wants to get herself killed or if she just has no clue what she’s doing. But her father made it clear: keep Nexi safe…or else. Of course, the more Nexi runs toward revenge, the more she needs Kyden’s aid, and as she grows into her power and confidence, so does his desire to protect her. The only problem? She’d rather he dropped dead.

But when a vampire paints a bull's-eye on Nexi’s back, she’s hard-pressed to deny Kyden and the help he’s offering. Even if it means getting her revenge will be a little bit harder. At least it will still be as sweet.

This book starts off with a bang and doesn't let up until the end. There is one cliffhanger moment after another and I found it hard to put this book down after I read it. The story starts off with Nexi Jones watching her parents murder at the hands or teeth of werewolves. As if things couldn't get anymore unbelievable for Nexi, she finds her parents were not her birth parents. The man who saved her from the werewolves that night is her father.

Now Nexi is living in the otherwolrd and she has a choice to make, to live there and train as a guardian and possible witch, or to go back to the human realm and live as a human. The werewolf who killed her adopted parents is still out there, and there is a conspiracy that nobody sees coming and it will take all of Nexi's strength to make it out alive.

I really liked how this story flowed and the world building was fantastic. I did feel like maybe the love interest was rushed, but it was definitely hot and I could feel the chemistry sizzle off the page. I liked how the mystery moved along and I loved that I didn't see that twist in the end. The story is very acation packed. I would almost describe it as an action flick for women. It definitely had some softer sides. It was nice to see Nexi go from scared and unsure to a confident woman. I liked how she grew in the book.

In conclusion, I really liked Werewolves be Damned by Stacey Kennedy and I look forward to reading more stories from this world. If you are looking for a quick and easy read that is full of action and sizzling romance, then pick up this book and read it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I give it four laser pistols.

[Animorphs Reread] The Predator by K.A. Applegate

 

The Predator
Animorphs #5
K.A. Applegate
December 1996
Scholastic
152 pages

Amazon

Marco never wanted to be an Animorph. He never wanted the ability to change into any animal he touches. He just wants to chill. Whatever happens, happens.

Jake, Rachel, Cassie, and Tobias know why Marco feels the way he does. He's worried about his dad -- the only family Marco has left. And if anything happens to him, his father will be all alone.

But something is about to change Marco's mind. It seems the Yeerks have a little surprise waiting for him. And it's definitely not nice. Now Marco has a reason to fight...

This story was from Marco's point of view. It's much easier to tell that beyond that sassy exterior is a big ball of mushy feelings and sensitive characteristics when the book is entirely in his head.

Marco was always my least favorite of the Animorphs, though I think that Cassie may have relinquished the title from him at some point, because there is really only so much tree hugging I can handle before I just want to set everything on fire.

Let's grab our suspension of disbelief hats and jump right in! Ax wants to assemble a distress beacon in order to call a Yeerk ship to Earth. Why? So he can steal it and flee back to his homeworld. The boys end up going with him to Radio Shack in the mall. That's right, they took an alien to the mall. Somehow they didn't expect him to go all crazy culture shock weird on them. Yet, that is exactly what happens. How? How could you not have predicted that?

In their escape they morph into lobsters at a grocery store. Really? That grocery store doesn't have surveillance cameras? No one requested the tapes after the culprits mysteriously disappeared inside? I think that it might blow the entire lid off their secrecy had the bad guys been in control of half a brain.

With all these shenanigans happening, they do have a really cool couple of scenes in which the crew morphs into ants. It all goes a little pear-shaped, but what in these books has not. Even their distress beacon call creates a situation in which they are taken captive and leave Earth's atmosphere.

Of course, they meet Visser One, who's identity is one of the biggest shockers of the entire series. Since the Vissers are all teenage girls, the Animorphs are able to escape with Visser One's help. There's no way Visser Three is going to be prom queen now!

This episode of the series was a lot of fun, even if it did get really silly at times.

[Arc Review] The Elite by Kiera Cass + Giveaway!

 The Elite
The Selection #2
Kiera Cass
April 23rd, 2013
Haper Teen
336 pages

Arc won from Story Crush. I am reviewing as that's how I do.

Amazon/Book Depository/B&N

The hotly-anticipated sequel to the New York Times bestseller The Selection.

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.

This book was far more action packed than the last. There are plenty of attacks on the palace. There are several fights between the occupants. There's a public humiliation style punishment. Most of the action was off-screen, but hopefully it's a precursor to how the third book will play out. It was certainly a far cry from the prim, proper brooding of the first book.

There's still an awful lot of brooding. America has even less of an idea of what she wants in a man and is tugged between the two corners of the love triangle somewhat violently. When she makes up her mind about one, something else will happen and thrust her into the arms of the other. It's quite the most frustrating thing. After awhile I stopped rooting for either boy. I'm on team America Singer. I want her to live in a nice house equal to her standing with several cats while she teaches others to play instruments and perhaps masters a few more to fill out her repertoire. She'll have some radical thoughts that will keep the town twittering about her mind behind her back, but she'll be happy. Just saying.

The worst blow for her is when her best friend in the competition is taken away from her in a rather violent fashion. America is set adrift with no one to turn to except the two guys, who are mostly trying to convince her to stay with them. This causes her to waffle quite intensely, polarizing completely to each of the boys the second she's with them alone. She eventually does bring another girl close, but she is as guarded with her as she is with Maxon.

A mystery is developing, of sorts. America is allowed to read the founding father's diary. This causes her to learn things they never bothered to teach her in history class. Their revisionist history astounds and sickens her, driving her, in the wake of another romantic spat, to do radical things.

With the king now rooting for her to fail, rebels invading the palace searching for something mysterious, and rebels capturing the loved ones of the Elite in order to shut down the Selection, this book raised itself above the previous one in terms of action and excitement. It still kept the elements that made it what it was, but it threw in more to create something that could, if done right, be pretty awesome.

For those of you who've stuck with me this long, I'm giving away an ARC of this. Please fill out the Rafflecopter below.

 

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[Review] The Selection by Kiera Cass

 The Selection
The Selection #1
Kiera Cass
April 24th, 2012
HarperTeen
327 pages

Amazon/Book Depository/B&N

 For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

After all the drama last year over the reviews of this book, I couldn't have been less inclined to read it. I tried the first two chapters back then, found them frivolous and lacking. Whether this was from previous perceptions or underlying grumpiness on behalf of all those involved with the drama-llama, I don't know. But, I had won a copy of the Elite and my co-blogger seemed to enjoy the series. So, in light of these recent developments, I picked it up and re-started it. Time must heal at least some things, because the second time around I didn't hear the snarky pitter-patter in the back of my head scoffing at everything on the page.

While some people try to tote this as "Hunger Games" meets "The Bachelor", throwing around the Suzanne Collin's hit in order to, I don't know, increase interest, it does the book a disservice. People are expecting that gritty post-apocalyptic randomness. That is not what this is. People in these books still have money and pay for things. Some people go hungry due to money issues. In fact, most of the population does. But, winning the Selection only helps the girl's family. It doesn't help her city-state as a whole. There is already rioting in the streets, nothing any of the girl's dressed up in pretty dresses do causes more or less dissension.

What it is, is very much Bachelor-esque. Thirty-five girls are chosen from applicants and sent to the palace in order to entertain and court the prince. It's a tradition going back generations. The prince will marry a common girl to boost morale and will choose his love from the spectacle that is the Selection. Like every Bachelor show, there are some in it for reasons that are not true love. There are essentially those that make the relationship between themselves and the prince more than it is. There are plenty of hurt feelings.

Within that love tetrahedron, American Singer has her own struggling love triangle. Originally I was glad she had moved away from Aspen. He seemed a poor choice, given his blatant disregard for her hard work. When he is moved to the castle and put on guard duty outside her room, the feelings reemerge. You would think with a possible death sentence for cheating on the prince that they'd be a little more discreet. But, no, they are upon each other immediately.

Some people have mentioned that the book ends on a 'cliff-hanger'. I wouldn't so much call it that as a lack of  conclusion. Where the book ends is not overly exciting. It doesn't leave you in throws of intense emotions like a season finale for LOST. It just is.

I enjoyed the book more this time around. It was definitely fluff. Nothing to take overly serious. A good escape for the mind. I'd equate it to watching reality shows, but that seems shallow. It has a bit more heart, despite outside appearances.

[Review] Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messanger

 Let the Sky Fall
Let the Sky Fall #1
Shannon Messanger
March 5th, 2013
Simon Pulse
416 pages

Amazon/Book Depository/B&N

 Seventeen-year-old Vane Weston has no idea how he survived the category five tornado that killed his parents. And he has no idea if the beautiful, dark-haired girl who’s swept through his dreams every night since the storm is real. But he hopes she is.

Seventeen-year-old Audra is a sylph, an air elemental. She walks on the wind, can translate its alluring songs, and can even coax it into a weapon with a simple string of commands. She’s also a guardian—Vane’s guardian—and has sworn an oath to protect Vane at all costs. Even if it means sacrificing her own life.

When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra’s forced to help Vane remember who he is. He has a power to claim—the secret language of the West Wind, which only he can understand. But unlocking his heritage will also unlock the memory Audra needs him to forget. And their greatest danger is not the warriors coming to destroy them—but the forbidden romance that’s grown between them.

This book was free on pulseit.com last week so I took advantage of reading it. I wasn't disappointed.

While the book starts much the same way as an anime, it is endearing in its execution. How many times can a boy meet a mysterious girl? How many times will they have a connection? Divide by how intense the super powers are that the boy has. It's really just Bleach with more air and less demonic souls.

The POV changes ever chapter, and while that can get a little taxing when some of the chapters are a page and a half, the characters both have their own unique personalities and internal snark. Unlike most books written in this format, I didn't have a favorite character to read. I didn't feel taxed when the other character would make their thoughts and feelings known. They were both equally enjoyable.

The main baddie is named Raiden. While he was off screen the entire book, I completely imagined him as the Mortal Kombat character, silly hat and all. So, I had a knack for giggling every time they were attempting to tell me how terrible he was.

I'm still unsure of how terrible he is, as he didn't seem to be the one causing all the issues in the first place. That was a pretty big shocker. I probably shouldn't say anymore in order to not spoil y'all.

I was engrossed in the narrative and the book flew by. The only time I was pushed out of the story was the several page advertisement for In-n-Out. Granted, living near Chicago in a state that doesn't seem to even have ONE of these so called 'amazing' burger joints, I can't vouch if the hype is worth it. I didn't find it endearing. It took away from the plot.

That aside, it was a really fun book. Just different enough from the usual YA paranormal crowd to try. Uniquely voiced enough to enjoy.