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17 & Gone
Nova Ren Suma
Dutton Juvenile
March 21st, 2013
Young Adult
Synopsis via Goodreads
Seventeen-year-old Lauren is having visions of girls who have gone missing. And all these girls have just one thing in common—they are 17 and gone without a trace. As Lauren struggles to shake these waking nightmares, impossible questions demand urgent answers: Why are the girls speaking to Lauren? How can she help them? And… is she next? As Lauren searches for clues, everything begins to unravel, and when a brush with death lands her in the hospital, a shocking truth emerges, changing everything.
With complexity and richness, Nova Ren Suma serves up a beautiful, visual, fresh interpretation of what it means to be lost.
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Ever since I read Imaginary Girls by Suma, I have been anxiously wanting to read more from her. I recently discovered this new book of her's that will be coming out and it sounds very intense and suspenseful. And how bout that cover? To truly appreciate how much detail has gone into it, it helps to view a larger version. The font, the colors, the image, and the missing person info are all pull together to create awesomeness! I'd love to see this cover in person once the book releases!
The Voice (ARC) Jennifer Anne DavisLands Atlantic January 29th, 2013Young AdultSource: For review from author.
Synopsis via GoodreadsDuring her abduction and assault, Audrey begins to hear a voice. She hopes she's not going crazy, because after what she's experienced, that's the most logical explanation. However, as she begins to listen to the voice, Audrey realizes that someone may be telepathically trying to help her.
Unfortunately, rescue isn't all she needs. In order to leave behind the constant reminders, she flees to her Aunt Kate's house in San Diego, and assumes a new identity. It works until the eighteen-year-old twin boys who live next door threaten to break through the protective walls she's worked so hard to build.Between Caleb going out of his way to befriend her and Justin avoiding her at all costs, Audrey doesn't know if normalcy will ever find her again. But one thing is certain: When a familiar danger resurfaces, it's the same voice that she turns to -- a voice that is not only real, but a lot closer than she realizes.Gripping and tastefully told, The Voice is a story of healing, trust, and courage.ReviewI received The Voice for review from the author while in attendance at YALL Fest this past November. The author was super nice and I'd reviewed for this publishing house before so I was looking forward to reading this book. While I didn't like it as much as I had hoped, it proved to be a worth while read.
As per usual, I will begin by discussing the characters. There was a wide variety of both main and supporting characters scattered throughout The Voice, all of whom proved to be at least somewhat significant in one way or another, which I appreciated. One of my pet peeves when it comes to books are pointless characters. Now, onto the heroine, Audrey. I had some mixed feelings about her and while I never disliked her, I never truly connected with her or loved her either. The core reason behind this was a development issue. It wasn't a lack of development, per say, because when I compare the Audrey in the beginning with the Audrey at the end, there was obviously change and progress that took place. My problem was with the actual process of her character development. Audrey, in my opinion, dramatically improved throughout the book, too much even. It all happened too quickly and then the reasons, or cause and effect, for these changes felt a little insufficient. With The Voice coming in at just over 200 pages, I believe this factor to be the culprit, and certainly not the author's lack of know how. That said, I was still glad to see Audrey come so far and I was pleased with her ability to try and move forward in life. She showed a lot of courage and strength throughout her journey, and I admired that. My one true annoyance with her? Her proneness to being completely oblivious to things going on involving Caleb, Justin, and the identity of the voice. Next is Kate, Audrey's aunt. I loved her character and she did a really good job of knowing where to draw the line between being Audrey's friend and being a responsible guardian/parent figure. Then, of course, we have Caleb and Justin. There were times when I liked Caleb and then times when I thought he was a bit of a jerk. As for Justin, well he could be so frustrating, but he was okay and I grew to like him more later on. One thing I was very glad of was that Davis made no attempt to turn this into a love triangle. I was so scared that was the direction things might head in and I was quite relieved when they didn't. Some other plot influential characters were Bree, Sarah, Drew, and Bret. There was one character, Maddie, whom I really would have liked to have seen utilized more, but because she wasn't, she came really close to being completely inconsequential to the story.
In The Voice, there are two central plot threads. One is the internal and external conflict that is the aftermath of Audrey's kidnapping and sexual abuse. The other is the mystery of the identity of the voice and the subsequent background information. To me, this book just wasn't long enough to adequately allow both of these elements of the plot to fully develop and reveal their utmost potential. I could have easily seen this book being another hundred pages. The plot tended towards repetitiveness at times, with a lot of the story being comprised of day-to-day events, many of which felt similar. One example is the beginning of several chapters with Audrey having a nightmare. This cycles back to the length of the novel because, if it had been longer, these points in the plot could have been more spread out, dissipating some of the deja vu, redundant feeling. Moving on, there were several things I thought the author did well. First up, the family dynamics of not only Audrey's family, but also Caleb and Justin's. Considering how short this novel was, these were aspects that I thought were quite capably handled. There is also the extreme originality of the plot and how Davis manages to weave the two plot threads mentioned above together into one. I would have liked a little more mystery as to the identity of "the voice", as I basically knew who it was from the beginning. However, there was still adequate suspense once Audrey started to realize that her ordeal was not completely over. There was one event in the plot that really bugged me and that was a situation that Audrey got herself into with a guy named Drew. Technically there were two of these, same guy, but while I thought the latter one to be very plausible and realistic, I found the first to be anything but. I also was not a huge fan of the romance element, subtle though it was.
Okay so this is where things are going to get a little interesting. I know how I felt about the writing but it is actually putting it into words that is going to be tricky. First off, overall, I liked the writing pretty well. It wasn't amazing but definitely above average, exhibiting potential to be more. The key area of the writing in which I felt the potential wasn't fulfilled was the emotion. I should have been feeling all kinds of emotion throughout this book, and unfortunately, I didn't. Whenever it came to Audrey's thoughts, feelings, and discussion of what she went through, it all felt very...textbook. It was almost too blunt and straightforward, like something you'd find in a guide to understanding rape victims. In other words, I felt that there was a lot of 'telling' and not near enough 'showing' of the emotion and trauma that Audrey was going through. As a result, I was left feeling disconnected when I should have been feeling sympathy and sadness. Note that this is a very subjective observation and one that someone may feel the complete opposite about. Some people can easily experience emotion whilst reading, and for others, it takes some very seriously legit writing ability, among other things, to trigger a state of genuine, say, sadness. I fall more towards the latter category.
Davis wrapped The Voice up in a suitable manner that I quite liked. However, the ending did feel very rushed, another problem that I felt came from the short length of the novel.
In Essence
Characters: Nice variety of characters but a little less developed than I would have liked considering the subject matter. Writing: Pretty well written overall but weak in the "emotion" department.Plot: Refreshing and unique but a bit repetitive.Ending: Rushed but tied up well. Enjoyment/Likability: I liked reading it fairly well. Recommendable: If it sounds interesting to you then I would say give it a shot. Despite its flaws, there is some real merit there as well. Also, many people appear to have loved this book, including a close friend of mine. So take this review with a grain of salt.
Overall: A good read with a unique plot that could have benefited from being much longer, allowing for more development, as well as more 'show' and less 'tell' in the writing. Not too heavy and not too light in the handling of a difficult topic.
Cover: Meh, okay.
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I'm giving away two ARCs of The Voice by Jennifer Davis, so if you are interested in giving it a shot, this is the perfect opportunity!
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While He Was AwayKaren SchreckSourcebooks FireMay 1st, 2012Young Adult
Synopsis via GoodreadsOne year--he'll be gone for one year and then we'll be together again and everything will be back to the way it should be.
The day David left, I felt like my heart was breaking. Sure, any long-distance relationship is tough, but David was going to war--to fight, to protect, to put his life in danger. We can get through this, though. We'll talk, we'll email, we won't let anything come between us.
I can be an army girlfriend for one year. But will my sweet, soulful, funny David be the same person when he comes home? Will I? And what if he doesn't come home at all?...
"A tender and honest examination of love, longing, and loyalty in the face of modern war."--Laura Ruby, author of Bad Apple
"While He Was Away is a wonderful love story with writing that is skillful and true."--Amy Timberlake, author of That Girl Lucy Moon
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While He Was Away Walmart-Exclusive Cover Reveal
and My Top Tips for Writing
Even When the Writing Gets Tough
By Karen Schreck
My birthday falls in January, just a few days after New Year’s Day. This January, I received an incredible gift from my publisher, Sourcebooks Fire. My young adult novel, While He Was Away, is being released nation-wide into Walmart with a brand new cover!
When my editor at Sourcebooks, Leah Hultenschmidt, graciously asked if I’d be open to this possibility last fall, I blinked, breathed deep, confirmed I wasn’t dreaming, and said, “Yes!” I held on to the possibility until it became a reality. Then, and only then, did I celebrate.
I won’t speak for all writers, but for me, writing is an act of faith. I love the work deeply, or I wouldn’t do it. I’ve generated a lot of pages that have never seen the light of day, written multiple novels that I’ve relegated to folders on my laptop. Keeping the faith in anything, especially writing, can be hard.
The fact that Sourcebooks believed enough in While He Was Away to bring it to life the first time felt like a much-needed confirmation of years of hard work. The fact that they are standing behind my book again in this way . . . well, it feels like a miracle. I’m truly grateful.
Without further ado, here are my Top Writing Tips (they’ve help me a lot; I hope they help you in some way):
1. Read a lot. Read voraciously. Read like a writer. Read some more. Read people who write in your genre or in a style that is similar to yours and take note of how they do what they do. Read people who write in a completely different way to keep your head clear and give you new ideas. Just. Keep. Reading.
2. Develop a ritual for your writing. I wouldn’t think of telling you what to do. You need to find what works for you, and sometimes that changes with your circumstances. This year, I’ve been working at an ad agency in the city. My ritual is to hunker down in the quiet car on the train and GET A LOT DONE. Previously I’ve written in the very same quiet corner of my local library. In basements. On couches. In bed. By candlelight. I’ve found that consistency and ritual can trigger my creativity. Ring the bell and I’ll salivate. Kind of like that.
3. Don’t be afraid to be messy in your work. Don’t be afraid to push forward even though it isn’t perfect. Nothing is perfect! Embrace that reality, and be kind to yourself. And forgiving of the words on the page.
4. Fall in love with revision. “I’m not a writer,” I once heard a writer say. “I am a re-writer.” I LOVE that. I love the word revision. Re-vision. Seeing again, anew, as if for the first time. Revision gives great perspective. And I think it’s where the real work gets done.
5. Never give up. Keep the faith. Years may pass. But the more you write, the more the very act of writing becomes rewarding. Writing is soul-work; it lends meaning to life. That’s what I believe, and that’s what sees me through. Publication—well, that a wonderful thing. But the writing—that’s where it’s at.~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So there you have it folks. As a writer, myself, I'm always looking for tips and tricks of the trade. Thank you, Karen!
Interested in reading While He Was Away? Check out your local Walmart and /or Bookstore or order it online:
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Shadowlands (ARC) By Kate BrianHyperionJan. 8th, 2012Shadowlands, #1Ages 14+ (YA)For Review from Publisher
Synopsis via GoodreadsRory Miller had one chance to fight back and she took it. Rory survived… and the serial killer who attacked her escaped. Now that the infamous Steven Nell is on the loose, Rory must enter the witness protection with her father and sister, Darcy, leaving their friends and family without so much as a goodbye.
Starting over in a new town with only each other is unimaginable for Rory and Darcy. They were inseparable as children, but now they can barely stand each other. As the sisters settle in to Juniper Landing, a picturesque vacation island, it seems like their new home may be just the fresh start they need. They fall in with a group of beautiful, carefree teens and spend their days surfing, partying on the beach, and hiking into endless sunsets. But just as they’re starting to feel safe again, one of their new friends goes missing. Is it a coincidence? Or is the nightmare beginning all over again?~~~~~~~~~~~~~a Rafflecopter giveaway
Shadow Falls: The Beginning
C.C. Hunter
St. Martin's Griffin
March 5th, 2013
Shadow Falls Books #1 & #2
Young Adult
Synopsis via Goodreads
“Kylie’s journey of self-discovery and friendship is so full of honesty, it’s impossible not to fall in love with her and Shadow Falls…and with two sexy males vying for her attention, the romance is scorching. This book has me begging for more, and I love, love, love it!” –Verb Vixen
Now available together for the first time, don’t miss books one and two in C. C. Hunter’s spectacular Shadow Falls series!
One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, but it soon becomes clear that the kids at Shadow Falls are far from ordinary. They’re supernatural—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world. Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason...if she can only figure out why, and what her burgeoning powers mean.
As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half Fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart. As Kylie struggles to make sense of her feelings and her new abilities, the dark side of the supernatural world emerges and makes life a whole lot harder. An evil enemy lurking in the shadows is about to threaten everything she holds dear…and bring her closer to her destiny.
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On March 5th, 2013, St. Martin's Griffin will be releasing the first two books in the Shadow Falls series, Born at Midnight & Awake at Dawn, in one volume for only $9.99. That's two books for the cost of only one! If you have been wanting to give this series a try, or maybe this is the first you've heard of it, then this is the perfect opportunity to get started reading C.C. Hunter's great Shadow Falls series! You can check out my review of Born at Midnight, the first book, HERE!
Pre-order Shadow Falls: The Beginning
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Shadowlands (ARC) By Kate BrianHyperionJan. 8th, 2012Shadowlands, #1Ages 14+ (YA)For Review from Publisher
Synopsis via GoodreadsRory Miller had one chance to fight back and she took it. Rory survived… and the serial killer who attacked her escaped. Now that the infamous Steven Nell is on the loose, Rory must enter the witness protection with her father and sister, Darcy, leaving their friends and family without so much as a goodbye.
Starting over in a new town with only each other is unimaginable for Rory and Darcy. They were inseparable as children, but now they can barely stand each other. As the sisters settle in to Juniper Landing, a picturesque vacation island, it seems like their new home may be just the fresh start they need. They fall in with a group of beautiful, carefree teens and spend their days surfing, partying on the beach, and hiking into endless sunsets. But just as they’re starting to feel safe again, one of their new friends goes missing. Is it a coincidence? Or is the nightmare beginning all over again?ReviewWhen Shadowlands arrived randomly in my mail, I didn't know anything about it. When I saw Kate Brian was the author, my interest was sparked as I had heard so much about her various books. After reading the synopsis, I was anxious to get started on this one. Unfortunately, I remain disappointed. Not to say the book was bad, because it had some great qualities, but alas, the characters...*sighs in frustration*...they dragged it down for me.
Let's get the worst over with first. I was so frustrated with Rory as a protagonist. In the beginning, she was almost what I would call spineless at times and then later on she'd stand her ground, but border lining on bossy. There was no apparent development that brought on this change. Her personality was definitely more of the quiet nerdy type, which was fine. However the geek qualities almost felt forced and I really didn't feel like I saw much depth in her character. I just couldn't bring myself to feel anything for her. Well that is until she starts to realize something is going on in Juniper Landing and no one believes her. I felt her pain then, because that always sucks. Her sister Darcy, omg, I just wanted to slap her upside the head. She was such a...not nice sister. At all. Mean, selfish, careless. Every now and then she would show a slightly more tender side, and then gone in a flash. She was a little better towards the end but I still don't like her. I would have liked to have seen more of Rory and Darcy's father, especially considering the nature of the plot. Olive and Aaron were probably the only characters I felt any connection to but sadly they weren't around much and I found myself desperately wanting more from them. Then there were Krista, Tristan, Joaquin, and some others, all of whom had different personalities but felt underdeveloped. Last but not least is our villain, Steven Nell/Roger Krauss, whom I actually found somewhat interesting, though very creepy. I thought Brian's decision to do brief chapters from his perspective scattered throughout the book was a keen way to help distinguish this story.
Kate Brian doesn't hesitate to dive straight into the action. Shadowlands starts out at a fairly swift pace and maintains it smoothly throughout, even when the action slowed. With plot elements consisting of: an attack by a serial killer; an eerie mystery surrounding Rory's strange new island home and its residents; and some other very interesting tid bits that I can't discuss further without spoiling something, Brian has crafted a truly original and suspenseful story that was unlike anything I'd ever read before. The setting of Juniper Landing was vividly imagined and did a nice job of setting the overall tone for the story. This is one of those stories where the less you know about it going in to it, the better. I think my only problem with the plot was that in the first part of the book, I got this slight feeling of repetitiveness. Other than that, the plot was by far my favorite aspect of the book.
The writing style was good. Very good, even, and I liked it well enough. However nothing really stood out to me about it as being particularly great. Of course, there wasn't anything that I particularly disliked either, so that's good at least.
Okay now about the ending. There are several reviews dancing about on Goodreads that say little more than "WTF?!" in regards to the ending for Shadowlands. I'm sure that would have been my exact reaction too. That is, if I hadn't flipped to the back of the book--to see how many pages there were--and accidentally read the very last sentence. *face-palm* Whoops. That said, yes the ending is a huge, shocking cliffhanger. But I liked it. Brian definitely left me wanting to know more.
In Essence
Characters: Underdeveloped, leaving me feeling quite indifferent. Writing: Pretty good, though nothing really stood out one way or the other.Plot: Twisted and suspenseful. Very inventive and original.Ending: I'm sure if I hadn't accidentally spoiled it for myself, shocking!1st in Series: Nice set up. Hoping to see more character development later on.Enjoyment/Likability: Liked it pretty well but characters really kept me from liking it more.Recommendable: I'd say it is worth the read. Especially for Kate Brian fans.
Overall: An exciting plot and good writing that were brought down by the static characters. I will be reading the next book in hopes that the characters start showing some dimension. Keep in mind, my opinions of the characters seems to be a less popular one than most.
Cover: Eerie and pretty.
Buy Shadowlands
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Notes From Ghost TownKate EllisonEgmontUSAFebruary 12th, 2013Young Adult
Synopsis via GoodreadsThey say first love never dies...
From critically acclaimed author Kate Ellison comes a heartbreaking mystery of mental illness, unspoken love, and murder. When sixteen-year-old artist Olivia Tithe is visited by the ghost of her first love, Lucas Stern, it's only through scattered images and notes left behind that she can unravel the mystery of his death.
There's a catch: Olivia has gone colorblind, and there's a good chance she's losing her mind completely--just like her mother did. How else to explain seeing (and falling in love all over again with) someone who isn't really there?
With the murder trial looming just nine days away, Olivia must follow her heart to the truth, no matter how painful. It's the only way she can save herself.The Butterfly CluesKate EllisonEgmontUSAJanuary 8th, 2013Young Adult
Synopsis via GoodreadsPenelope (Lo) Marin has always loved to collect beautiful things. Her dad's consulting job means she's grown up moving from one rundown city to the next, and she's learned to cope by collecting (sometimes even stealing) quirky trinkets and souvenirs in each new place--possessions that allow her to feel at least some semblance of home.
But in the year since her brother Oren's death, Lo's hoarding has blossomed into a full-blown, potentially dangerous obsession. She discovers a beautiful, antique butterfly pendant during a routine scour at a weekend flea market, and recognizes it as having been stolen from the home of a recently murdered girl known only as "Sapphire"--a girl just a few years older than Lo. As usual when Lo begins to obsess over something, she can't get the murder out of her mind.
As she attempts to piece together the mysterious "butterfly clues," with the unlikely help of a street artist named Flynt, Lo quickly finds herself caught up in a seedy, violent underworld much closer to home than she ever imagined--a world, she'll ultimately discover, that could hold the key to her brother's tragic death.~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks to Media Masters Publicity and EgmontUSA, one lucky winner will receive a hardcover of Note From Ghost Town and a paperback of The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison!
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