Prowl Trilogy Book Tour

I've decided to join in the Prowl Trilogy Book Tour. I've already reviewed the first book, Prowl, and since I liked that and saw an opportunity to join in on the rest of the books, I jumped in on it!

Prowl Trilogy

To visit the official website of  YA Christian thrillers – the Prowl Trilogy - click this link.

Entice

Author: Amber Garza

Series: Prowl Trilogy

Book #: 2 out of 3

Read: September 24, 2012 - September 25, 2012

My rating: 5 stars

Buy ENTICE

 
ENTICE: Prowl Trilogy #2

        Mackenzie returns home from the summer with her grandma, certain that Wesley is out of her life for good.  Until the nightmares resurface, and strange things start to happen.

         Is Wesley back?

         When the danger escalates and threatens those closest to her, Mackenzie must fight to save them. Only this time the evil is more powerful, and Mackenzie is faced with an impossible decision.

Jenkies' Review:

First off, I should note that I absolutely love the cover of this book. Actually, all three books are really pretty. In comparison to the two books I've read so far in this trilogy, my favorite so far would be this book. I felt like the characters were more developed and it kept you wondering what was going on the entire time. The end of the book had a nice twist and definitely left you wondering what was going to happen.

I felt it was a fairly quick read and felt that the entire story was refreshing. I felt like Mackenzie had a lot of patience for the people in her life and I'm not sure I would have handled it quite as well, to be honest. Even though I wouldn't have the patience, it was still written very realistic. I'm looking forward to reading the next book, in fact, I might start that today because I'm dying to know what will happen next! :)

Gone Girl Book Review

Gone Girl

Author: Gillian Flynn

Series: N/A

Book #: 1 out of 1

Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Read: August 28, 2012 - September 7, 2012

Rating: 5 stars

Author's Synopsis:

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he’s definitely bitter—but is he really a killer?

As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

With her razor-sharp writing and trademark psychological insight, Gillian Flynn delivers a fast-paced, devilishly dark, and ingeniously plotted thriller that confirms her status as one of the hottest writers around.


Jenkies' Review:

Of course I had my reading list all planned out and another book that I requested at the library came through! So, I immediately started reading it. To be honest I was drawn to this book because I saw a long waitlist at the library for it. That’s when I knew that there must be something good about this book to draw that much attention. I am happy that I followed that instinct because it was a great read. It is one of those books that I could easily find myself re-reading a few times.

I’ll admit the first half of the book is really setting everything up and getting you to know the characters, Amy and Nick. By the time you reach half way through the book there is a huge twist and next thing you know you’ve read about 3/4ths of the book non-stop. (Okay, I stopped to sleep and take my daughter to school.)

There is a lot of suspense in it and you aren’t ever quite sure how it is going to turn out. I liked that about it, I couldn’t guess what was going to happen next. The style of writing the author has is right up my alley. I will be looking into some of the other books she has…my guess is, they’ll be just as great.

I have tendencies to read a lot of Young Adult books and if you are like me and like to shake it up every now and then, I’d suggest this book. So, go on out and get your name on the list at the library to get this book! Believe me, I had to wait like a month for it, but it was worth it!

Starters Book Review

Starters

Author: Lissa Price

Series: Starters and Enders

Book #: 1 out of 2
Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Read: August 24, 2012 - August 27, 2012

Rating: 3 stars

Author's Synopsis:

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. . . .

Jenkies' Review:

First, I'll start with the cover. I absolutely LOVE the cover of this book. It's so beautiful and in person it is even better. It is very metallic and shiny!  Definitely gives off the appropriate futuristic feel.

This book was referred to me by another Goodreads' member. I anticipated this book a lot and when it finally came in from the library, I dropped my original to-read list and added this one to the top! Well, it was an interesting story. I'll give it that. It has a Cinderella feel to it, but definitely with a huge twist.  I found it a little annoying when it would blatantly do Cinderella-esque things. There were a few things that I wish the author wouldn't have followed Cinderella so closely and think it would have come out a little more original.

At the beginning of the book the scenes were well thought out and set up. I wish it would have set it up consistently through the book. The end of the book was not well thought out and left me, at times, confused with the scenery.

There were a few things that I felt the author didn't wrap up and left me with a lot of questions. I'll have to read the second book, Enders, just to find out if she ever wraps those things up. If it weren't for those questions, I'm not sure I'd go read the second book.

Uglies Book Review

Uglies

Author: Scott Westerfield

Series: Uglies

Book #: 1 out of 4

Read: August 22, 2012 - August 23, 2012

Rating: 4 stars

Author's Synopsis:
Everybody gets to be supermodel gorgeous. What could be wrong with that? Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license -- for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

Jenkies' Review:
As you can see above I read this book pretty quickly. That's one thing I like about books is when they are an easy read like that. The author's writing was interesting. I found that it switched from one point of view to another constantly through the book. It would go from Tally's thought processes to second person and then to third person. It threw me off a few times in the book.

If it weren't for the awkward writing style as mentioned above, I probably would have rated it a 5. I loved the story of the book. I loved seeing the character grow within the book. She goes from a shallow girl to one with more of a purpose. I also really enjoyed how quickly everything seemed to move within the book! It gets boring when books drag certain sequences out, so I find it refreshing when multiple things happen in a book.

Towards the end of the book I just became frustrated! To the point where I just wanted to jump up and down and scream at Tally! Like, "C'mon! Just do it already!!!"Now, I'm going to have to order the second book of the series, Pretties.

Finding Summerland: The Ameryn Chronicles #1 Review

Finding Summerland: The Ameryn Chronicles #1

Author: Paige Bleu

Series: The Ameryn Chronicles

Book #: 1 out of 5

Read: August 14, 2012 - August 20, 2012

My Rating: 4 stars

Author's Synopsis:

After his brothers recent disapearance Wesley Rochester wished he could just fade into obscurity. Searching for closure, he's haunted by visons. Consumed with decoding the messages, he begins turning dangerously deeper inward. Enter an intriguing, 'not quite' human stranger, who mysteriously arrives just as he feels all hope is lost. Together they begin to realize that their destinies are intricately tangled in a drama reaching far beyond the realms of the wold they know. Discovering the secrets plaguing wesley since childhood are no coincidence, and everything he believes is shattered. Captivated by her, he must decide between the life he has and the one he'd forgotten. 

'Finding Summerland' is like 'Twilight' in the sense that it is a supernatural, coming of age romance—but has a genre bending, metaphysical element and a much deeper rabbit hole. Follow the journey of two star crossed souls as they explore who they are and the ties that bind them. Enter a world intentionally forgotten. A place buried by history, where only the chosen are aware of its existence. A place covenants are made and broken, where myth leads to truth and forbidden love threatens to destroy or be destroyed, becoming just another casualty in their shadow war. 

The introductory novel in a series of five, called 'The Ameryn Chronicles'—but compelling enough to stand alone—'Finding Summerland' is sure to be savored by anyone craving to stretch the bounds of ordinary imagination, edgy enough to engage readers who enjoy unravelling a mystery, and sweet enough to grab onto the hearts of the romance lovers! Where legends breathe and dreams are alive. A 'trippy' journey to a new reality.

Jenkies' Review:

This book was provided through a Read to Review. A great big thank you to the author for sharing this with me. Here is my honest review of the book...

This book is described as something similar to Twilight and while I can see some similarities, I think it definitely has its own story.  I enjoyed the love story aspect and watching it unfold. I also loved the characters. I felt that I could really connect with the main character, Wes, and understand everything he was feeling.

Let's start with the intro - I liked how the story started. It quickly gave away that there was some sort of supernatural feel to it. While it gives that much, it doesn't nearly explain all parts and, to be honest, leaves you confused and wanting to read more to make sense of it. However, I should warn you the end of the book doesn't explain the entire first scene and definitely leaves you on a HUGE cliffhanger.

I rated this a 4 instead of a 5 because I found myself getting a little lost when they were providing some back-story. At the beginning, it seemed to go slowly because I was so eager to find out what they were talking about during the first scene. The book really started picking up about 75 or so pages in. The last 100 pages seemed to go by very fast because I couldn't put the book down.

I'm pretty bummed the second book isn't out yet. I want to find out what happens next! I truly believe that this is going to be a great set of books.

Water for Elephants Review

Water for Elephants

Author: Sara Gruen

Series: N/A

Book #: 1 out of 1

Read: August 10, 2012 - August 14, 2012

My Rating: 4 stars

Author's Synopsis:
An atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of star-crossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the bestselling author of "Riding Lessons." "Gritty, sensual and charged with dark secrets involving love, murder and a majestic, mute heroine (Rosie the Elephant)."Q"Parade."


Jenkies' Review:
As you may know from my previous blog postings, this was not my typical book that I like to read. I like settings that are placed in the present, future and dystopian settings. I gave this one a shot because I heard it was really good from multiple people. In the end, I'd say I'm overall pleased with my decision to read it. It was one of those books that had me in tears in a couple of parts, but not nearly as much as I expected I would.

One thing I really like about this book is it flips from the main character. Jacob, during his younger days when he was traveling with the circus to when he is in a nursing home. One thing I find lacking in other books is I am always curious what happens next. This book has a surprising ending, which I enjoyed thoroughly, but I am pleased with just leaving it at that for the ending. At times, I felt like the book dragged at parts. At the end things happened so quickly in comparison. I, personally, would have liked to see more time spent on the last 50-75 pages of the book.

I've got questions! I want to know more! Maybe, just maybe, Sara Gruen will write a book solely on what happened in between the circus-life and nursing home. I think that would be an interesting read!

The Ask and The Answer Review

The Ask and The Answer

Author: Patrick Ness

Series: Chaos Walking

Book #: 2 out of 3

Read: August 8, 2012 - August 10, 2012

My Rating: 5 stars

Author's Synopsis:

We were in the square, in the square where I'd run, holding her, carrying her, telling her to stay alive, stay alive till we got safe, till we got to Haven so I could save her - But there weren't no safety, no safety at all, there was just him and his men...

Fleeing before a relentless army, Todd has carried a desperately wounded Viola right into the hands of their worst enemy, Mayor Prentiss. Immediately separated from Viola and imprisoned, Todd is forced to learn the ways of the Mayor's new order. But what secrets are hiding just outside of town? And where is Viola? Is she even still alive? And who are the mysterious Answer? And then, one day, the bombs begin to explode...

"The Ask and the Answer" is a tense, shocking and deeply moving novel of resistance under the most extreme pressure. This is the second title in the "Chaos Walking" trilogy.

Jenkies' Review:
**contains spoilers

This book was one that I wasn't able to put down. It is 519 pages and it felt like it was too short with as much that happens during the entire book. I've always found the second books in trilogies to not be as exciting as the first or even the last, but this book was fantastic. 

The two main characters want to be with each other and they don't hold back trying to get just that. This story is basically about everyone trying to keep them apart. This book had very few moments where I could guess what was going to happen. In fact, I think there was only one! If I had to describe this book in two words I would choose Surprising and Suspenseful.  

In my review for the first book, I admitted that I cried during it. I'm proud to say that I didn't cry in this book at all. There were still emotional moments, but I felt because the story-line kept moving it was hard to focus on any one scene for too long. So, I'm tear-free in this book! Now, I certainly can't guarantee that for the third book I won't cry, but we'll see...

Prowl Review

Prowl

Author: Amber Garza

Series: Prowl Trilogy

Book #: 1 out of 3

Read: August 2, 2012 - August 5, 2012

My Rating: 4 stars

Author's Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Mackenzie Smith is sent away to spend a boring summer at her grandma's. But then she meets Wesley. He tells her exactly what she wants to hear and has information about her past that no one else knows. It's almost like he can read her mind.

Only Wesley isn't who he seems.

By the time Mackenzie discovers his true identity it may be too late. She's in too deep and he won't let her go. Now Mackenzie must call on the strongest power of all in order to save her life.


Jenkies' Review:
I found this book to be very interesting and a different story from any that I have read before. Although most of the time I was able to guess what was happening before it did.

The reason I rated it a 4 vs a 5 is because there were a few things that didn't quite flow for me. Sometimes it felt like answers were convenient. I did find some things that editing must have missed in the book, but that is really only if I am going to be picky with it.

Overall, I'd be interested to see where the 2nd book goes with this story and see if the things that I felt were convenient end up having more sustenance to them.

The Knife of Never Letting Go Review

The Knife of Never Letting Go

Author: Patrick Ness

Series: Chaos Walking

Book #: 1 out of 3

Read: July 29, 2012 - August 2, 2012

My Rating: 5 stars

Author's Synopsis:
Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. Just a month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd and his dog, Manchee -- whose thoughts Todd can hear too, whether he wants to or not -- stumble upon an area of complete silence. They find that in a town where privacy is impossible, something terrible has been hidden -- a secret so awful that Todd and Manchee must run for their lives.

But how do you escape when your pursuers can hear your every thought?

Jenkies' Review:

This book was recommended to me by one of my coworkers. She raved about how great it was and I immediately went out and requested it from the library. About half way through this book, I requested the second one from the library because I was already that into it. It has pretty short chapters, so it's easy to read a chapter while - let's say you are warming something up in the microwave!

The way that this book starts out is hilarious. I read the first page and basically re-read it word for word to my husband immediately after. 

I got so hooked in this book that when it was a sad moment or anything, I even cried. (Side Note: I try to avoid books that are known for being sad - pretty much anything that is written by Nicholas Sparks.) I gasped at shocking moments and probably even started to get short with my husband and daughter because I was feeling stressed at times too. It has a great story-line and if you are looking for a book that wraps everything up at the end, this is definitely not one of those books. It left it with a huge cliffhanger and now I'm waiting to get an email from the library to tell me the next one is in!

Storm Front Review

Storm Front
Author: Jim Butcher
Series: The Dresden Files
Book #: 1 out of 14
Read: July 24, 2012 - July 27, 2012

My Rating: 5 stars

Author's Synopsis:

The novels of the Dresden Files have become synonymous with action-packed urban fantasy and non-stop fun. Storm Front is Jim Butcher's first novel and introduces his most famous and popular character-Harry Dresden, wizard for hire.

For his first case, Harry is called in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with the blackest of magic. At first, the less-than-solvent Harry's eyes light up with dollar signs. But where there's black magic, there's a black mage. Now, that black mage knows Harry's name. And things are about to get very...interesting.

Jenkies' Review:

This book was something that I would classify as an "easy read". It moved rather quickly for me, which is great. I don't like it when books drag any one particular scene on too long.  The biggest thing that I enjoyed about the book was the humor. Harry Dresden is the main character in this book and when he narrated the story, it really felt like he was just talking to an old friend. It really helped me connect. While, I'm not a wizard or anything cool like that, it was great to be able to connect to the character. The only thing that I would have liked to see was more development with the potential love interest. Since I have yet to read the other books in this series, it very well could be something that is included throughout them. While I have not read many books that were of the sci-fi genre, this was a great book to start with. I would definitely recommend this to anyone that was on the fence with them. It definitely will persuade you to come to the other side. Jim Butcher definitely has made me a fan and I've only read one of his books so far! Now onto the next one...