Showing posts with label YA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label YA. Show all posts

Thursday, May 9, 2013

.#Review Shark Bait by Jenn Cooksey



Shark Bait (Grab Your Pole #1)Shark Bait
by Jenn Cooksey

Published June 15th 2012
Series: Grab Your Pole #1

Goodreads






Previously homeschooled Camie Ramsey is being shoved into the shark-infested waters of public high school, where even helium filled, penguin bespeckled arm floaties likely won’t help keep her inexperienced, fifteen-year old head above water in that rip current of hormones and emotions.

Camie’s worldly wisdom might be severely lacking (i.e., the closest she’s come to being kissed was sitting too close to the TV whilst Jake Ryan leaned in to give Samantha that fateful 16th birthday kiss), but she does understand her only hope for survival is if she’s thrown some kind of “social” life preserver before she sinks like a freaking rock. However, what will her fate be when she endeavors to flag down the only lifeguard on duty, the enormously popular and ridiculously beautiful Tristan Daniels? The most sought after and virtually most unattainable guy in school who not only makes Camie’s heart flatline on a recurring basis, he’s also the one guy who seemingly doesn’t know she exists.

Feeling like an inept piece of chum that could ultimately be swallowed by Jaws, can Camie get Tristan to rescue her from floundering in the treacherous deep, or is she destined to be Shark Bait.



Author's Note:

While the tales themselves are fictional, some of the events and characters are very loosely based in reality and on my experiences—but don’t worry, the names of the characters, most of their unfortunate fashion sense and/or questionable taste in music has been changed to protect the not-so innocent.

*Due to language and some adult content, this book may not be suitable for readers under the age of 16


Grab Your Pole Seies

Shark Bait (Grab Your Pole #1)
The Other Fish in the Sea (Grab Your Pole, #2) 
Untitled (Grab Your Pole, #3)             


Shark Bait (Grab Your Pole #1)The Other Fish in the Sea (...Untitled (Grab Your Pole, #3)














Are we back in the 80's?? Well, if we are then SIGN ME UP! I LOVED growing up in the late 80's. The movies, music, style, everything about it. This book was like a throwback to my high school days, and I enjoyed reminiscing the fun times.




Shark Bait is a young adult book, that was very reminiscent to high school. It has strong characters, especially the secondary characters. The only issue I found with this book, was the way it dragged a little longer than I would of liked.


Camie the main female lead, was home schooled all her life until her mom falls ill, and doesn't have the strength to continue with homeschooling. So Camie, has to start high school as a sophomore.  Not only is she the "new" kid, but she's also the "never been in a classroom kid", but Camie seems to adjust to her new lifestyle rather quickly, she fits in and makes friends right away. On her first day she meets and is saved by Tristan Daniels, the hot male lead in this book. Camie is in awe of Tristan, and although he comes across as aloof, at first, you know these two will be sizziling up this story, soon enough!

Cami is instantly attracted to Tristan. He's hot and every girl wants him. He doesn't care for girls who throw themselves at him, but tends to use those girls for some, "somethin' somethin'". With Camie  she comes off as different and doesn't throw herself at him. Instead she figures he's not interested in her, but with friends like Kate telling her different, she and Kate seem to come up with a plan on how to "bag" Tristan when it seems every other girl has lost out to winning his attention longer than a romp in bed with him. Thankfully, Kate is his best friend and knows a lot about Tristan his likes/dislikes, etc. So these two girls become fast friends and work together so Camie  can win him over.

We see the typical high school drama, and antics, some were funny and had me lol, The secondary characters in this book were a great asset to this story. They made the story more believable and propelled the overall grouping to feel realistic. We also see these two, and there friendship grow to something more, but when things get hot and bothered for these two and it looks like their relationship has bloomed, something happens and everything seems to change, and it looks like they will have to overcome insecurities and more to be together.

As the book progresses, it feels eerily familiar to high school. The gossip, the "mean" girls, the lusting of virginal heat. Everything you can remember about high school from parties to friendships is laden throughout this book, with various throwbacks to 80's movies, music, etc. The secondary characters were a great asset to the story and helped the story grow. I did enjoy Shark Bait for what it was a young adult read with some heat. The only thing that I found that I didn't care for was, the dragged out inner dialogue, from the main character. If you were a fan of the movie, Pretty in Pink, then this book may be right up your alley.




4/5 Throwback Roses




Friday, April 19, 2013

.#REVIEW Taken by @erin_bowman @harperteen






Taken (Taken, #1)Taken (Taken #1)
by
 
Expected publication: April 16th 2013 by HarperTeen
Genre- YA, Dystopia, Fantasy
Goodreads



There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends…and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side.









 
 

Unique concept, and world, Taken is a male driven read. Although parts of this book draws out some controversy among readers, disliking the main character. I understood why some readers find a disliking to him, I didn't love him, but found him to be accurately portrayed in this Dystopian action packed mysterious world. 

 
 
 
 
 
Claysoot is a colony of people living behind enclosed walls, not knowing what's beyond those walls only that if you escape over those walls you've just bought your death certificate. If you've read the above synopsis you already know there are no men in Claysoot.  Every boy born will be turned over to The Heist, when he is eighteen. Gray is seventeen, having just lost his brother to the Heist, he knows he will be next. Gray is at a loss at what's to become of him and what has happened to his brother. He is distraught, emotional, and has mixed feelings, ranging from jealously to anger. He believes there is more to the whole conspiracy of this so-called Heist, and maybe there is after he finds information that leads him to believe there is something more "out there" beyond the walls.
 
Gray's life is about to change as he makes a decision to change his destiny, he decides to climb the wall and go over. He's not alone, though as he has a follower who just so happens to be a family friend, a girl he seems to have fallen for takes the leap with him. But, crossing over the wall is not what they both imagined.  
What he learns over that wall is a explanation of sorts as to what happens to the men of Claysoot, and now he is on a mission to start a revolution and alter everyone's life. As nothing is as it seems, and we find out this "Heist" is part of a bigger picture.


Without spoiling the rest, I can say I did enjoy reading Taken. I know some people have mixed feelings over the story, because of Gray, and I can understand why they may feel uncomfortable over some of his actions. I think I looked at it in a different light, then some of my peers. I felt like his actions were mostly spot-on. We have a boy, who is determined not to just become another Heist number. He is strong-willed and yes, sometimes arrogant, but he has watched many male members of the city disappear at eighteen.
No men in Claysoot mean "no fathers", so clearly every male born knows their destiny from a young age. Men are used at a young age to continue the population of Claysoot. They must be paired with females, that they may or may not like and impregnate the with their seed, so the population can continue on. Gray finds the whole outcome to every man's life in Claysoot to be intolerable.
 
He is determined to find out what and why this happens. I'm sure just going against the grain of everything everyone believes in is difficult enough, and to just recently loose the only last member of his family to the heist has been extremely difficult for him. That does not excuse his actions when it comes to one part of the book, and it should not be condoned. I really felt the whole "world and concept" of The Heist and the surrounding fantasy aspects of that story fully outweighed the character driven part of this story.  
All, in all I did enjoy Taken and will look forward to the next book. 



4/5


Have you read Taken, yet? What are your thoughts if you have?

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

.Waiting On Wednesday: Raven Flight by Juliet Marillier & Spy's Honor by Amy Raby




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I've been on a Fantasy reading kick lately. I just finished reading Assassin's Gambit and really loved it. Maybe it was just my mood, but it met my expectations. I'll be posting my review, soon.
 My first pick is the second book in the Shadowfell Series. I read Shadowfell last year and really enjoyed it, so I can't wait to see what the next book, Raven Flight brings.
 My second pick, Spy's Honor is the Heart's and Thrones Series #2.


What are you waiting on? Leave me a link!


Raven Flight (Shadowfell, #2)
Raven Flight (Shadowfell #2)
by Juliet Marillier
Expected publication: July 9th 2013
Goodreads





Neryn has finally found the rebel group at Shadowfell, and now her task is to seek out the elusive Guardians, vital to her training as a Caller. These four powerful beings have been increasingly at odds with human kind, and Neryn must prove her worth to them. She desperately needs their help to use her gift without compromising herself or the cause of overthrowing the evil King Keldec.

Neryn must journey with the tough and steadfast Tali, who looks on Neryn's love for the double agent Flint as a needless vulnerability. And perhaps it is. What Flint learns from the king will change the battlefield entirely-but in whose favor, no one knows.



Shadowfell (Shadowfell, #1)




                                                                Shadowfell (Shadowfell #1)











*This may not be the official cover. I found this on Pinterest
There is no cover on Goodreads, yet*


Spy's Honor (Heart's and Thrones #2)
by Amy Raby
Paperback, 400 pages
Expected publication: October 1st 2013 by Signet

Goodreads


Rhianne, mind mage and Imperial Princess of Kjall, cannot openly challenge the emperor. Instead, she acts in secret to aid the victims of his worst excesses. But now the emperor plans to wed her to the cruel Augustan, the man leading Kjall’s attack against the nation of Mosar. Soon she will be torn from her supporters and shipped overseas, where she can help no one.

Mosari crown prince Janto is desperate to save his country from invasion. When one of his most trusted spies disappears while gathering intelligence at the Kjallan palace, Janto takes his place and continues searching for information that could save his people. But falling for the Imperial Princess was not part of his plan. Nor was having his true identity revealed…

Now Rhianne must make a choice—follow the path of tradition or the one of the heart, even if it means betraying her own race



Assassin's Gambit (Heart's And Thrones #1)

Assassin's Gambit (Hearts and Thrones, #1)

Thursday, April 4, 2013

#Freebies, Deals, Steals & Pre-Orders!


Hey guys! I'm back with another Freebies, Deals, and Steals Post. This time I included a ton of Paranormal/UF/Fantasy Pre-Orders on some amazing books that will be released in the future. Remember, all Pre-Orders are backed up by Amazon's Pre-Order Guarantee. Have fun shopping! 


*Click on book covers for direct link (unless otherwise stated)
*All Prices are subject to change per Amazon 
*Check all prices before you order 


About the Pre-Order Price Guarantee


The Pre-Order Price Guarantee applies to books, CDs, videos, DVDs, video games, or software sold by Amazon.com, and not to items (or prices) offered by other sellers on our site.
Amazon.com's price for not-yet-released items sometimes changes between the time the item is listed for sale and the time it is released and shipped. If the price charged when we ship the item will be the lowest price offered by Amazon.com between the time the order was placed and the end of the day on the release date. The order summary in Your Account will reflect the lowest price within 24 hours of the price change.
Note: 
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  • If your order enters the shipping process before the release date and the price is lowered on the release date, we will automatically refund your credit card for the difference within 48 hours of the release date.





FREE



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$1.59



$1.99





$2.99







$3.82





$3.99








**PRE-ORDERS**  Paranormal/UF/Fantasy