One Moment by Kristina McBride

Publication Date: 6-26-2012

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Pages: 272

Format: eBook

Source: Netgalley

Challenge: eBook Challenge

Goodreads | Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

"This was supposed to be the best summer of Maggie's life. Now it's the one she'd do anything to forget.
"
Maggie remembers hanging out at the gorge with her closest friends after a blowout party. She remembers climbing the trail with her perfect boyfriend, Joey. She remembers that last kiss, soft, lingering, and meant to reassure her. So why can't she remember what happened in the moment before they were supposed to dive? Why was she left cowering at the top of the cliff, while Joey floated in the water below-dead?
As Maggie's memories return in snatches, nothing seems to make sense. Why was Joey acting so strangely at the party? Where did he go after taking her home? And if Joey was keeping these secrets, what else was he hiding?
The latest novel from the author of "The Tension of Opposites," "One Moment" is a mysterious, searing look at how an instant can change everything you believe about the world around you.

I was excited to read this book because the synopsis made it sound really interesting.  I thought it would make a great summer read and I love the cover.  Thankfully I wasn't disappointed! McBride had me hooked on this book from the very beginning.  The plot line was thrilling and mysterious.  I couldn't wait to find out more.  However, I will admit this book is slightly depressing.

Maggie is an amazing character.  She is well-rounded, sweet and believable.  The grief she experiences from the loss of her boyfriend is expected and not over exaggerated.` She has her ups and downs and is just a very lovable character.  I found myself attached to her and hoping for the best.  

I literally couldn't put this book down.  This was probably the fastest I finished a book in a long time!  Like I said, the storyline was catching and the mystery surrounding the death of Joey was something I couldn't help but try to figure out.  As more details arise, I began to feel a little differently.  Some characters didn't have a single good aspect to them.  I almost didn't want to know what happened.  I thought it would ruin the book.  Of course, I was wrong.  The ending of this book is the best part.  I was thrilled to have everything seemingly worked out. 

Although this book is a bit of a downer in the beginning, I suggest picking it up.  I think it's a great read for this summer.

Review: Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

Publication Date: 6-12-2012

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Pages: 320

Format: eBook

Source: NetGalley

Challenge: 2012 eBook Challenge

Goodreads | Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistable good looks and charm on ususpecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.

I don't know why, but lately I've been picking up books and finding out they are NOTHING like I think they are going to be.  I suppose it would help if I read the synopsis instead of just looking at pretty covers. 

Anyway, even though this wasn't what I expected, it was a very interesting book.  Mermaids are murderers.  Who would have thought that?  They are definitely not friendly creatures as one may think.  At least, as I thought.  Calder White is a mermaid who is choosing to attempt to live without feeding on humans (as his sisters do).  He goes long periods of times without feeding, because he feels bad about it.  This summer, Calder and his family are planning revenge for their mother's death.  The plan is to take one person from the Hancock family as a sacrifice, in a way, to make up for their mother's death.  Their plan takes a turn when Calder decides he cares deeply for one of the family members, Lily.  

Lily is a strange character to me.  I feel like she doesn't react in a way that a normal person would react.  It was strange to see her feelings towards mermaids and animals of the lake.  She seemed to have more understanding than most people.  This would be an aspect of the book that was a little frustrating to me.  She didn't seem real.

Calder's character was a little strange too, but he was easy to like.  He had a side to him that made you want to like him.  I wanted the best for him, even with the mistakes he made.  He tries to make the right decisions, but having a deep connection with his sisters makes his decisions more difficult.  

Overall, there was a lot of excitement in this book.  I enjoyed the story, even if some aspects of it seemed unlikely.  The writing was good and the author kept me entertained.  I especially liked the ending of this book, which of course I won't tell you about.  I would say this is a book to pick up from the library or borrow from someone before adding it to your bookshelf. Either you will like it or you wont'.  Personally, I don't think there is much of an in-between for this one!  

Review: Timepiece by Myra McEntire

Publication Date: 6-12-12

Publisher: Egmont USA

Pages: 336
Format: eBook

Source: NetGalley

Challenge: 2012 eBook Challenge

Goodreads | Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking...

Kaleb Ballard's relentless flirting is interrupted when Jack Landers, the man who tried to murder his father, timeslips in and attacks before disappearing just as quickly. But Kaleb has never before been able to see time travelers, unlike many of his friends associated with the mysterious Hourglass organization. Are Kaleb's powers expanding, or is something very wrong?

Then the Hourglass is issued an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he's stolen on the time gene, or time will be altered with devastating results.

Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no choice but to use their unusual powers to find Jack. But where do they even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough...

The follow-up to Hourglass, Timepiece blends the paranormal, science fiction, mystery, and suspense genres into a nonstop thrill ride where every second counts.

This book was great! I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was written in Kaleb's POV instead of Emerson's.  I fully expected Emerson to once again narrate this story as she did the first, but the change of pace was interesting and fit very well in the story!

I don't want to give too much away in case you haven't had a chance to read Hourglass.  Basically this book continues from Hourglass and delves deeper into the world that Myra McEntire created.  We learn more about each of the characters, as well as more about the entire world.  The bit of romance included in this book is so fitting.  There isn't too much romance to be overbearing, but hearing about the brewing romances among characters just made it so much better.  Each character contains the spark of something that makes you want to love them.

I love the mystery this book contains, as well as the paranormal aspects.  It's a mix of everything I love all bundled up into a pretty little bow! I can't get enough of these characters.  Emerson and Michael are amazing together.  Kaleb is such a gentlemen and a person I wouldn't mind knowing myself.  

The once aspect of this book I did NOT like was the ending!  How could she leave us hanging like that?! I don't know if I can wait until book number three comes out to find out what happens.  I have so many questions going through my head I just can't take it!  In all seriousness, you must read this book.  I loved it.  I loved it to pieces, and I will likely be reading it again soon because I can't get enough!

Review: Starters by Lissa Price

Publication Date: 3-13-2012

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Pages: 352

Format: eBook

Source: netGalley

Challenge: Ebook Challenge, 2012 DAC

Goodreads | Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

HER WORLD IS CHANGED FOREVER

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man.

He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . .

I was so excited for this book.  Another dystopian novel was something I really wanted.  Callie is living in a world without parents.  Any middle-aged individual was basically killed in the Spore Wars.  Only the young children and grandparents survived (those who were vaccinated).  If you didn’t have a grandparent to claim you, then you were sent to live in an institution, i.e. the worst labor camp I have ever heard of.  There is another way.  Prime Destinations is a place in which you can rent out your bodies to Enders (seniors) for short periods of time.  Callie decides to do this for some cash, but Prime Destinations is more than she could have ever imagined.  Her renter wants to murder someone, has altered Callie’s chip, and is now talking in her mind.  Callie doesn’t know what to do, but makes some rash decisions in hopes of saving the likelihood of receiving her payment.

This book had so much potential.  The storyline was great, the characters were interesting, and the Spore Wars was so intriguing.  The book didn’t tell us a whole lot about the Spore Wars.  We found out little bits and pieces, but nothing major.  The mystery of the Old Man and Prime Destinations kept the story alive, as well as the questions regarding Callie’s neurochip.  I wish we could have learned more about the Old Man, but I assume we will in the next book since this is a series.  Callie annoyed me a bit in the book.  She seemed strong, but I thought she would have been more headstrong and eager to figure everything out.  Instead, she seemed to take her time.  It was as though it didn’t matter how long it took to get back to her brother.  She even took time to fall in love (or like) with a boy named Blake.  I really enjoyed the overall story, but I thought it would have had more depth.  Even though I felt as though something was missing from the book, I’m still looking forward to reading the second when it comes out! I want to learn more about the Old Man and the Spore Wars.

Review: New Girl by Paige Harbison

Publication Date: 1-31-12

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 304

Format: e-book
Source: netGalley

Challenge: Ebook Challenge

Goodreads | Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

They call me 'New Girl'...

Ever since I arrived at exclusive, prestigious Manderly Academy, that’s who I am. New girl. Unknown. But not unnoticed—because of her.

Becca Normandy—that’s the name on everyone’s lips. The girl whose picture I see everywhere. The girl I can’t compare to. I mean, her going missing is the only reason a spot opened up for me at the academy. And everyone stares at me like it’s my fault.

Except for Max Holloway—the boy whose name shouldn’t be spoken. At least, not by me. Everyone thinks of him as Becca’s boyfriend but she’s gone, and here I am, replacing her. I wish it were that easy. Sometimes, when I think of Max, I can imagine how Becca’s life was so much better than mine could ever be.

And maybe she’s still out there, waiting to take it back.

 

The synopsis is what intrigued me about this book and of course the GORGEOUS cover! 

The book starts off with the New Girl arriving at this new school, Manderly Academy.  She is thousands of miles away from her family and friends, but looking for a fresh new start.  A start she isn’t going to find at Manderly Academy.  New Girl is at the academy because Becca Normandy disappeared.  She took Becca’s open spot at the school, but is nothing like Becca.  There isn’t a single person at the school who doesn’t make sure that she knows this.  Well, I take that back.  There are two people who seem like they actually might care about who she is rather than how much she doesn’t compare to Becca.

I didn’t like any other character in this book.  I hated the way they treated the New Girl.  I hated the way they were so mean and rather than accepting her they kept accusing her of trying to be like Becca, but being unable to compare.  They hated her before even getting to know her at all.  The New Girl kept her head up and was able to keep it together while at school.  Personally, I would have given up and just went back home.  I can’t imagine going through what New Girl went through.  She was put through so much that she didn’t deserve, but it was here perseverance that helped unravel the mystery surrounding Becca.  I was hooked at trying to figure out what happened to Becca.  We slowly learned more about her and eventually discovered what happened to her, but it was the mystery that kept me reading.  The strange part of the book was being unaware of what our main character’s name was.  She was referred to as New Girl until practically the very end of the book.

Overall, this was a novel that held my interest due to the mystery surrounding Becca’s disappearance.  I was intrigued by the storyline and kept engaged throughout the book.  It was unrealistic that an entire school would choose to hate a new student based upon the premise that she was taking the place of a student who disappeared, but the writing was good and the story was interesting.

Review: Fracture by Megan Miranda

Publication Date: 1-17-2012

Publisher: Walker Childrens

Pages: 272

Format: e-book

Source: netgalley

Challenge: E-book Challenge 2012, DAC 2012
Goodreads | Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine

—despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

For fans of best-sellers like Before I Fall and If I Stay, this is a fascinating and heart-rending story about love and friendship and the fine line between life and death.

Delaney Maxwell should be dead.  She was dead.  She fell into a lake and drowned, but her friend Decker Phillips saved her.  He pulled her out of the water and wouldn't stop doing CPR until rescue came.   Delaney is alive.  Not only is she alive, but against all medical odds there is nothing wrong with her.  She walks, talks, breathes, etc. fine.  Physical therapy was basically nonexistent after her short time in a coma.

After waking up, Delaney is feeling these weird sensations that pull her towards certain people and she doesn't know why.  She realizes she is being drawn to the dead and doesn't know why.  Troy Varga introduces himself to Delaney.  He has the same abilities as her, but he doesn't consider them helpful.  He says it's a curse.  He says they should both be dead.  

These two teenagers are connected in similar ways, but have completely different feelings regarding their abilities.  Troy and Delaney go through some experiences together that basically make the two of them decide what they want to do with their lives.  At first, I thought this was going to be a love story, but I realized everything went terribly wrong.  I couldn't believe how this book ended.  Delaney, Troy, and Decker need to figure out how they all fit together and how they are going to handle this turn of events in their life.  It was full of suspense and mystery, as well as a bit of the supernatural.  Miranda did a great job developing her characters and giving them a background story that fit in well with the overall plot line.  I really enjoyed this debut novel, and I can't wait to read another book by Megan Miranda.

Review: Tempest by Julie Cross

Publication Date: 1-17-2012
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 352 

Format: e-book

Source: netgalley

Challenge: Ebook Challenge 2012, 2012 DAC

Goodreads | Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

The year is 2009.  Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.
That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.
Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.
But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler.  Recruit… or kill him.
Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

A little bit of love, a lot of suspense, and a lot of teenage curiosity time-traveling make for one amazing story.  Julie Cross hit this book head-on in terms of the writing style, plot line, and engaging her reading audience.  I couldn’t put this book down.  Of course, I had to at work, which made me one crabby person, but I immediately picked it back up when I got home.  The relationship between Jackson is Holly made me so emotional, as did the relationship between Jackson and his sister Courtney.  We don’t know much about the history of Jackson and Holly, but we see enough snippets to understand how connected they are. 

The mystery surrounding Jackson, his family, and his entire life is one that he can’t help but keep trying to figure out.  He has tried to keep his time-traveling ability a secret, but it turns out everyone knows and isn’t telling him.  Although, they don’t know exactly how much ability he has or what he can do.  It’s a surprise to everyone.  Jackson is keeping secrets himself in an effort to make his own decisions regarding who he should be partnering with, what he should be doing, and where exactly his future is going to take him.  There are so many decisions this young man needs to make that he doesn’t know where to turn.  All of these potential decisions make a great story.  I couldn’t help but yell at him when I thought I knew what he should be doing.  I felt connected to Jackson at a personal level.  I felt like I understood him and what he was going through. 

I also want to mention that having a male protagonist made an even better story.  It isn’t often that we get to read from that point of view.  Jackson was a nice change-up from the usual female protagonist.  If you are interested in time-traveling, suspenseful mysteries with a touch of a love story I think Tempest would be perfect for you. Well, except for the overwhelming need to read book two in the series that won’t be out for a long time!

Saving June by Hannah Harrington

Publication Date: 11/22/2011

Publisher: Harlequin

Pages: 336

Format: e-book

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads | Amazon

Goodreads Summary:

Harper Scott's older sister, June, took her own life a week before high school graduation, leaving Harper devastated. So when her divorcing parents decide to split up June's ashes, Harper steals the urn and takes off cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going—California.

Enter Jake Tolan, a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession…and an unknown connection to June. When he insists on joining them, Harper's just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanor and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what Harper needs. Except…Jake's keeping a secret that has the power to turn her life upside down—again.

_____________________________________________________________________

I'm not sure where to begin with this review.  So I'll start with the characters and go from there!  Harper Scott is a teenage girl who feels as though she is the screw-up of the family.  Her parents are divorced and always treated her older sister as though she was perfect and could do no wrong.  Now that June is gone, Harper is facing the wrath of her parents and family who seem even more annoyed with her.  Harper holds a lot of anger and has trouble facing her emotions.  She basically went through an emotional journey in this book that taught her so much more about herself.

Laney is Harper's amazing best friend.  She helps Harper through every tough situation and is always there for her.  She puts up with more than she should at times, but they always work it out.  Eric Tolan is a very mysterious boy who wants to go with Harper and Laney, but they are still trying to figure out what his connection to June is.  He and Harper fight constantly and make each other mad yet they seem so much alike in so many ways.  Harper and Jake have a lot of their own problems to work through and the connection to June is going to help them out.

This truly is a story about finding yourself, your place in the world, and discovering more about a person you lost.  Harper is trying to get closure over the surprising loss of her sister.  She feels like she should have expected it and isn't sure how to handle it.  As I'm sure no one would know how to handle the loss of their sibling from suicide.  She feels guilt and ultimate responsibility.  This trip is helping her discover that not everything is her fault and she has a place in the world.  Harper learns more about her sister, life, and those around her through this trip.  She works through all her emotions and becomes a stronger person for it.  I really enjoyed this novel and I'm glad I had a chance to read it.  Harper's story needed to be told and portrayed a very typical reaction to someone losing someone so close.  I felt sorrow for Harper which turned to joy as she found herself and where she belonged.  YAY Harper!!