Waiting on Wednesday - Ruined by Jus Accardo

Hi everyone, thank-you so much for stopping by my WoW!

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My WoW for this week is Ruined by Jus Accardo. I am a huge fan of Jus Accardo’s YA series (Denazen & The Darker Agency) so I am definitely eager to read her take on NA, especially paranormal.

 Author: Jus Accardo

Series: -

Genre: New Adult

Amazon pre-order

Publisher: Entangled Embrace

Release date: 11^th November 2013

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

Hell is looking for a way to break loose…

Jax lost the genetic lottery. Descended from Cain, the world's first murderer, he's plagued by a curse that demands violence in exchange for his happiness. He left everything behind, including the girl he loved, but thriving on the pain of others is lonely… And it's killing him.

After a series of heartbreaking losses, Samantha put rubber to pavement and headed for college as fast as her clunker could carry her. But she can't outrun her problems. When an attack at school drives her back home, she's thrown into the path of a past—and a guy—she's been trying to forget.

Sam strains Jax's control over his darkness, but running isn't an option this time. Someone—or, something—followed her home from school: a ruthless monster with a twisted plan centuries in the making. Forced together to survive, and fighting an attraction that could destroy them both, Jax and Sam must stop a killer bent on revenge.

What are most anticipating this week?

Review: Never Fade (The Darkest Minds #2) by Alexandra Bracken

Never Fade

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Series: The Darkest Minds

Pages: 452

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Amazon

Release date: 15^th October 2013

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

Ruby never asked for the abilities that almost cost her her life. Now she must call upon them on a daily basis, leading dangerous missions to bring down a corrupt government and breaking into the minds of her enemies. Other kids in the Children’s League call Ruby “Leader”, but she knows what she really is: a monster. 

When Ruby is entrusted with an explosive secret, she must embark on her most dangerous mission yet: leaving the Children’s League behind. Crucial information about the disease that killed most of America’s children—and turned Ruby and the others who lived into feared and hated outcasts—has survived every attempt to destroy it. But the truth is only saved in one place: a flashdrive in the hands of Liam Stewart, the boy Ruby once believed was her future—and who now wouldn’t recognize her. 

As Ruby sets out across a desperate, lawless country to find Liam—and answers about the catastrophe that has ripped both her life and America apart—she is torn between old friends and the promise she made to serve the League. Ruby will do anything to protect the people she loves. But what if winning the war means losing herself?

Review: 4 out of 5 stars

You can read the first chapter here.

The Darkest Minds ended on a brutal cliff-hanger so I have been more than enthusiastic to read Never Fade by author Alexandra Bracken and right from the onset we are thrust into the dark dystopian world.

Ruby is now a member of the Children’s league, a group of kids with special abilities where she is entrusted with risky tasks to bring down a corrupt government by invading the minds of her enemies.

I admit I didn’t like Ruby in the first book, she came across as woe is me weak but her character was certainly kicked up a notch in this book and I found myself liking her but also feeling sorry for what she has been through, one minute she was kick-butt awesome and the next moment my heart would break at her vulnerability, she has progressed drastically and I really found myself liking her courage.

Ruby is on a mission to locate a missing hard-drive which is now in the hands of the boy she once loved but no longer remembers her - Liam Stewart. There are so many twists and turns in this book my mind is still reeling, it is emotionally intense! We get to learn more about the PSI powers and mind control as well as corrupt government agencies, secrets and missions, there was never a dull moment.

The secondary characters were great with the exception of a few who garnered a lot of suspicion, I adored Jude, Chubs and Vida; her potty mouth had me giggling. We also get to meet a whole new slew of characters who were each likeable but I did at times find it difficult keeping up with who was who with such a large cast. My heart broke for Liam who is still pretty swoony but he remains outspoken and obstinate; the characters all play a pivotal role and each of them has shown strength and determination; you can’t help but like each of them.

The world is dark and gritty and shows the desperation and fears; you are pulled back into the well-crafted story with a plot that continues to strengthen and characters that have changed drastically since the first book which I appreciated. Alexandra Bracken’s writing is engaging and addictive, I was riveted throughout despite feeling the pacing lagged throughout the middle and then we are thrust into full throttle towards the end, the pacing would be my only gripe.

Overall, I enjoyed Never Fade as much as The Darkest Minds but I do still have a number of unanswered questions which I hope will be solved in the next book.

Thank-you kindly to Disney Hyperion for the opportunity to read and review Never Fade.

 

About the author: 

Alexandra Bracken wrote Brightly Woven as a birthday present for a friend, and the story grew and flourished during a year of unpredictable, wild weather. A native of Arizona, she is a recent graduate of the College of William and Mary, where she majored in History and English. She now lives in New York City.

ARC Review: Cracked (Soul Eater #1) by Eliza Crewe

Cracked

Author: Eliza Crewe

Series: Soul Eater

Pages: 336

Publisher: Strange Chemistry

Amazon

Release date: 5^th November 2013

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

Meet Meda. She eats people.

Well, technically, she eats their soul. But she totally promises to only go for people who deserve it. She’s special. It’s not her fault she enjoys it. She can’t help being a bad guy. Besides, what else can she do? Her mother was killed and it’s not like there are any other “soul-eaters” around to show her how to be different. That is, until the three men in suits show up.

They can do what she can do. They’re like her. Meda might finally have a chance to figure out what she is. The problem? They kind of want to kill her. Before they get the chance Meda is rescued by crusaders, members of an elite group dedicated to wiping out Meda’s kind. This is her chance! Play along with the “good guys” and she’ll finally figure out what, exactly, her ‘kind’ is.

Be careful what you wish for. Playing capture the flag with her mortal enemies, babysitting a teenage boy with a hero complex, and trying to keep one step ahead of a too-clever girl are bad enough. But the Hunger is gaining on her.

The more she learns, the worse it gets. And when Meda uncovers a shocking secret about her mother, her past, and her destiny… she may finally give into it.

Review: 3 ½  out of 5 stars

I’m not quite sure what I expected when I began Cracked but it was certainly a surprise and a lot darker than what I thought but balanced with many laugh out loud moments; it’s a great start to the Soul Eater series and a fabulous debut for Eliza Crewe.

Our main protagonist is Meda Melange who eats souls, living alone since her mothers death she targets people who she believe deserve it and has convinced herself she is the only one of her kind.

Meda’s voice was so distinct, I found myself loving her sarcasm, attitude and edgy humour which flowed well; she lacked conscience and was quite violent without feeling remorse; she was unlike other YA characters I have read more recently and I found myself giggling on numerous occasions at her dialogue and inner monologue.

The premise is intriguing, the world-building well-structured and the plot was  evenly paced and filled with great action scenes as we follow Meda in her quest for knowledge about her past, her destiny and secrets surrounding her mother. Eliza Crewe’s writing is crisp and witty and I liked learning about soul eating demons, Templars, halflings, crusaders and good versus evil. 

The secondary characters were each unique and well-developed, Jo, Chi and Uri each played a pivotal role and were easy to relate to; there is a smidgen of romance but it isn’t at the forefront of this story but I hope we get more.

Overall, Cracked is the perfect book for Halloween! a dark and gritty book that was also quite heavy on the humour which balanced everything out well, it’s very different to what I normally read but I found myself fully engrossed. I’ll definitely be reading more books by Eliza Crew.

Thank-you to Strange Chemistry for the opportunity to read and review Cracked.

 

About the author: Eliza Crewe always thought she’d be a lawyer, and even went so far as to complete law school. But as they say, you are what you eat, and considering the number of books Eliza has devoured since childhood, it was inevitable she’d end up in the literary world. She abandoned the lawyer-plan to instead become a librarian and now a writer.

While she’s been filling notebooks with random scenes for years, Eliza didn’t seriously commit to writing an entire novel until the spring of 2011, when she and her husband bought a house. With that house came a half-hour commute, during which Eliza decided she needed something to think about other than her road-rage. Is it any surprise she wrote a book about a blood-thirsty, people-eating monster?

Eliza has lived in Illinois, Edinburgh, and Las Vegas, and now lives in North Carolina with her husband, her hens, her angry, talking, stuffed dwarf giraffe, and a sweet, mute, pantomiming bear. She likes to partially-complete craft projects, free-range her hens, and take long walks. Cracked is her first novel.

Review: Blackout (Blackout #1) by Robison Wells

Blackout

Author: Robison Wells

Series: Blackout

Pages: 432

Publisher: Harper Teen

Amazon

Release date: 1^st October 2013

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

Laura and Alec are trained terrorists.

Jack and Aubrey are high school students.

There was no reason for them to ever meet.

But now, a mysterious virus is spreading throughout America, infecting teenagers with impossible powers. And these four are about to find their lives intertwined in a complex web of deception, loyalty, and catastrophic danger—where one wrong choice could trigger an explosion that ends it all.

Review: 2 ½ out of 5 stars

I was initially drawn to the cover of Blackout and the unique premise, the idea of a virus spreading throughout America and infecting teenagers with strange powers is quite exciting but unfortunately this one really lacked the world-building that was desperately needed to pull it off, we are given the basics but no in depth detail about what had happened or why.

The start of the book introduces us to teenagers destroying landmarks of importance all over the country and the government trying to stop the acts of terrorism by rounding up teens with useful, powerful abilities to fight against them – I found the concept interesting.

What I also enjoyed was the diverse abilities we were introduced to and how the virus was affecting people in different ways, the action sequences which started from the onset of the book were also entertaining and kept the pacing consistent and the suspense exciting.

Told from numerous POV’s it became a tad too much and didn’t leave a lot of growth for development. The characters were ok - Aubrey Parsons has the ability to be invisible and in the initial stages she came across as shallow when she placed so much emphasis on her social standing but she progressed throughout the book, Jack who has super hearing was really sweet and my favourite character, our antagonists are Alec Moore who has the ability to put thoughts into others minds (I’d love this one!) and Laura Hensen who has speed and strength, I didn’t connect with both of them at all.

Despite a few issues, Blackout has a lot of promise and I was always eager to learn more about the overall picture – the purpose and motivations behind the attacks, small hints were given along the way but nothing was ever clear and we still receive nothing definitive by the end of the book. I am eager to read the next book in the hopes we eventually will get the much needed answers.

Overall, Blackout is well written and filled with manipulation, secrets and astonishing situations. An engaging read but unfortunately one I wasn’t completely wowed by.

Thank-you to Harper Teen for providing me with a copy of Blackout to read and review.

Blog tour - Treasure Your Love (Surrender Your Love #3) by J.C. Reed

I recently had the chance to read Surrender Your Love and Conquer Your Love by J.C Reed and I’m pleased to share the details and an excerpt to the third book, Treasure Your Love here today!

Published: October 15th, 2013 Mature New Adult/ Adult Contemporary Romance - recommended for ages 18 and up.

My reviews: Surrender your Love & Conquer Your Love

Synopsis.

Author: J.C. Reed
Series: Surrender Your Love
Publisher: Self
Pages: 234
Amazon

Meeting Jett was like a drug. Dangerous. Addictive. And better forbidden. In his game, there’s a high price to be paid. But how much is too much?



Brooke Stewart, a realtor in New York, was never in love until she met the green-eyed, sexy-as-sin, six-foot-two sex god, Jett. The man to whom she surrendered. The man who hurt her once only to conquer her heart again.



Sexy, handsome, and arrogant Jett Mayfield knows he has found his match. Brooke is like no other woman he’s ever met and he has every intention of keeping her in his bed.

Their future seems full of promise...until the past is catching up with them and dark secrets threaten to destroy their lives. Soon they realize that to love means to lose, and some choices are harder than others.

When everything comes crashing down, can mistakes be amended…or will he lose her forever?

A woman who surrendered to love.


A man who would do anything to protect her.


Two lives that are about to be tested…and the last secrets laid bare.



Now available:
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Barnes & Noble

Connect with Author

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

Read Reviews on Goodreads

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Review: The Boys of Summer (Summer #1) by CJ Duggan

The Boys of Summer

Author: CJ Duggan

Series: Summer

Pages: 321

Amazon

Release date: 19^th December 2012

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

It seemed only natural to nickname them the 'Onslow Boys'. Every time they swaggered in the front door of the Onslow Hotel after a hard week's work, their laughter was loud and genuine as they settled onto their bar stools. I peeked through the restaurant partition, a flimsy divider between my world and theirs. I couldn't help but smile whenever I saw them, saw him ... Toby Morrison. Quiet seventeen-year-old Tess doesn't relish the thought of a summertime job. She wants nothing more than to forget the past haunts of high school and have fun with her best friends before the dreaded Year Twelve begins. To Tess, summer is when everything happens: riding bikes down to the lake, watching the fireworks at the Onslow Show and water bomb fights at the sweltering Sunday markets. How did she let her friends talk her into working? After first-shift disasters, rude, wealthy tourists and a taunting ex-boyfriend, Tess is convinced nothing good can come of working her summer away. However, Tess finds unlikely allies in a group of locals dubbed 'The Onslow Boys', who are old enough to drive cars, drink beer and not worry about curfews. Tess's summer of working expands her world with a series of first times with new friends, forbidden love and heartbreaking chaos. All with the one boy she has never been able to forget. It will be a summer she will always remember. Warning: sexual references, and occasional coarse language

Review: 3 ½ out of 5 stars

A very BIG thank-you to my wonderful blogging friend and awesome author Marie Landry for sending me a copy of The Boys of Summer by C.J Duggan. I can’t believe I hadn’t picked up this book earlier.

Set in the fictional Aussie town of Onslow, The Boys of Summer follows the story of seventeen year-old Tess McGee who has been convinced by her best friends Ellie and Adam to take a job at the Onslow Hotel over the summer break, initially hesitant because she is socially inept she soon realises this is the place to be – with them and a group of older boys nicknamed the Onslow Boys her summer becomes quite the adventure.

There were so many things I loved about Tess, she was quiet, handled a taunting ex with dignity but there were also things that made me cringe but were also realistic for her age; she had a huge crush on 22 year-old Toby Morrison and was a little too full-on with him I think, I wish she would have let him chase her and make the effort so I felt her actions were too much and caused unnecessary miscommunications.

Toby was quiet and seemingly reserved, he did have a girlfriend at the beginning of the book but you could see the chemistry he had with Tess; I would have liked more page time with him to get to know him a little more or for him to show more outward emotion but I didn’t feel we got this.

All of the Onslow boys were wonderful but real stand-outs were Sean, Chris and Stan; I adored Sean’s wit and humour – he broke the bro code but he was sweet and quite charming; Chris was broody but intriguing and I found Stan really sweet. They were a pretty swoon worthy cast. I’m also hoping Adam gets his own book, he was an amazing best friend as was Ellie.

The Boys of Summer is beautifully written with many topics which are true to life and believable and I love the Aussie setting and CJ Duggan’s descriptive details, the flashbacks to music I grew up with had me humming along which I thought was great.

Overall, an entertaining read and a great start to the Summer series.

 

About the author: 

C.J Duggan is an Australian author who lives with her husband in a rural border town of New South Wales, Australia.
The Boys of Summer is Book One in her Mature Young Adult Romance Series.
For more on C.J and ‘The Summer Series’, visit www.cjdugganbooks.com

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Waiting on Wednesday - The Taking (The Taking #1) by Kimberly Derting

 

Hi everyone, thank-you so much for stopping by my WoW!

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine which spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My WoW for this week is The Taking by Kimberly Derting. I am a hug KD fan, I adore her Body Finder and The Pledge series and this one sounds pretty amazing and I’m loving that cover.

 Author: Kimberly Derting

Series: The Taking

Genre: Young Adult

 Amazon pre-order

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release date: 29^th April 2014

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

A flash of white light . . . and then . . . nothing. 

When sixteen-year-old Kyra Agnew wakes up behind a Dumpster at the Gas ’n’ Sip, she has no memory of how she got there. With a terrible headache and a major case of déjà vu, she heads home only to discover that five years have passed . . . yet she hasn’t aged a day. 

Everything else about Kyra’s old life is different. Her parents are divorced, her boyfriend, Austin, is in college and dating her best friend, and her dad has changed from an uptight neat-freak to a drunken conspiracy theorist who blames her five-year disappearance on little green men. 

Confused and lost, Kyra isn’t sure how to move forward unless she uncovers the truth. With Austin gone, she turns to Tyler, Austin’s annoying kid brother, who is now seventeen and who she has a sudden undeniable attraction to. As Tyler and Kyra retrace her steps from the fateful night of her disappearance, they discover strange phenomena that no one can explain, and they begin to wonder if Kyra’s father is not as crazy as he seems. There are others like her who have been taken . . . and returned. Kyra races to find an explanation and reclaim the life she once had, but what if the life she wants back is not her own?

What are most anticipating this week?