ARC Book Review: Pawn by Aimee Carter

First Published: 26^th November 2013 

Pages: 296 (hardcover)

Publisher:   Harlequin Teen

ISBN: 0373210558

Book Depository - Amazon UK - Amazon US

Synopsis

YOU CAN BE A VII IF YOU GIVE EVERYTHING.

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked - surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.

There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed, and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

Review

I received an e-arc through Netgallery for an honest review.  

What can I say about Pawn, it was such an amazing, fresh, unpredictable story. I have read so much dystopian in the last couple of mouths but Aimee Carter took it on in a new way, but still keeping the somewhat fundamental’s of a dystopian novel, such as the way people are categories on certain things .

In the world that Aimee created, you took at test on your 17^th birthday, and from that test you are put into a group from 1 -7.  This number was where you stood in society, what advantages you had in living, where you lived etc number 1 being the lowest and getting absolutely nothing and number 7 getting more than you need . Aimee took on the theme that alot of Classical novels convey of Society Structure and how that determined on what you were in life, but a little twist.

Our Main protagonist is has taken her test and already marked with the number 3, and let’s just say, that is pretty much next to nothing.  I really liked Kitty Doe even though she may not seem that strong, from the outside, she is damn strong from the inside, I don’t know how she survives the whole book with that went on. I felt for her so many times in the book, I just wanted to just give her a big hug. 

I loved the Plot; it was different, interesting, different. I could never pick what was going to happen next, as there was so many twist and turns and I loved it. I hate when I can predict things that happen in books, it just makes them boring, but in Pawn I thought something was going to happen and then something the totally the opposite took place. I also loved that the book was Fast Paced. At the start some people might have say its slow, but I believe that was the world building and it was done perfectly.

I really don’t know why or if it was just me, but I found the first few chapters very emotional, they just really hit me in the gut, the way that Kitty was feeling, the way it was described was like BOOM. I am not that ashamed to say that I did tear up a little, but to why, I really don’t know the answer to that at all.

Through the whole book I had no idea who I trusted. Which made it that more interesting. You thought someone was good, or bad. And they did or said something that totally flipped your option on them.

Also the whole idea of being ‘masked’ was intriguing and terrifying at the same time. I would never want that done to me or any one I loved and cared about. But I was completely into finding out so much more about it and the big question of why someone would do this.  The way that Aimee incorporated this was very smart.

I really enjoyed the romance concept in Pawn it wasn’t fully of snappy romance. It was carefully placed throughout the novel. I adore the romance between Kitty and Benjy. It was so cute and I really like going into a YA novel where the couple is already together, they already went through the awkward first stage that, I sometimes really don’t like to read. It was refreshing. Throughout the novel we see there relationship build and go through tough times. I was really concerned when I thought there was going to be a love-triangle, but thankfully there wasn’t one and our main focus relationship wise was on Benjy and Kitty.

I really don’t know how I feel about Benjy, I don’t know if I love him or I want to it him and cut him up in pieces. He loved Kitty to his core anyone could see that but it was a little over protective and just made me so angry sometimes. But in saying that I wish I had a boyfriend like Benjy, whom is so sweet and caring.

I also really like the theme of family vs power again it was very intriguing. The idea that being corrupt by power can make you turn on anyone even your own family.

I can whole heartily say that Pawn by Aimee Carter is one of my favourite books on 2013. From the writing style, characters to the story it’s self it wrapped me into the world and I cannot wait to pick up the next book the Blackcoat Rebellion.  And I don’t mind paying money to get a physical copy of it either.

 I give this nothing else but what I think it deserves a 5 stars out of 5 

Book Review: Catching Jordan (Hundred Oaks #1) by Miranda Kenneally

First Published: December 1^st 2011

Pages: 283 (Paperback)

Publisher:  Sourcebooks Fire

ISBN: 1402262272 

Book Depository - Amazon UK - Amazon US

Synopsis

One of the boys 

What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though--she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university.

But everything she's ever worked for is threatened when Ty Green moves to her school. Not only is he an amazing QB, but he's also amazingly hot. And for the first time, Jordan's feeling vulnerable. Can she keep her head in the game while her heart's on the line?

Review

I have just really started reading contemporary in the last couple of months and I'm really enjoying and Catching Jordan was not a disappointment.  It was a fun, sweet yet somewhat emotion read, that drew me in right from the start.

I really enjoyed the Story line, it wasn't all that new, but it was different. As you may tell from my reviews, I don’t really read that much contemporary, so this is all new to me. But books like this are reason why I have fallen into the contemporary trap.

At first it was really hard to grasp the book in the sense of the football side of it. I’m from Australia, so the whole concept of American Football was new to me and as I love AFL (Australian Rules Football) it was hard for me to try to remember that it was America Football they are talking about not Australian. But after a while I got the concept and was able to understand was going on in terms of all the football stuff.

I really loved Jordan, she was a really likeable character, she didn’t annoy me, or get on my nerves. She plays football, and considered ‘one of the guys.’ She is loveable and a sweat heart. She may be a tomboy, but she isn’t one of those whom don’t have a girl side to them at all, she has all those emotions any other girl has. I really connected with her alot, even though we don’t have much in common at all – She made me cry and laugh, she made everything feel real, when you heart fluttered, mine did to, when her heart broke, so did mine.  I loved the way that Miranda Kenneally  could make the reader feel that like that, the way she could captivate me just with Jordan’s Character.

There was so many different types of relationships in Catching Jordan and they all had different meanings or made me feel different. All the Relationship were very well written; I loved the dynamic that Jordan had with the Guys on the team, oh my, I just loved it. They way they interacted, made me just smile alot.  The Chemistry between the team members just I adored it and wish that I had this with a team if I was in one, they made me laugh so many times.

The relationship with her family was ... very rocky. I dislike her dad with a passion. I just wanted to scream at him so many times. It made me so angry when he was just never there for her. He was never there for her, for anything, he never believed in her. Though I disliked her Jordan’s dad with a passion, I loved that Miranda shown different sorts of relationships, including bad ones. It made the book seem more real.

The romantic relationships’ I just don’t know how to feel about them. I really dislike Love –Triangles, so that sort of frustrated me throughout the book especially because I liked them both. They both had different things about that shone to me, which made me want them to be with Jordan. So I just got frustrated with myself.  It wasn’t full of cheesy romantic moments, but it was there and I loved the cheese. 

It was overall I an amazing read that I would suggest to anyone that likes contemporary or anyone that is trying to get into contemporary and doesn’t know where to start. It has the perfect combination of romance, sport, humour and every day like dilemmas. I cannot wait to pick up the rest of the novels in the 'Series' 

  

 Some of my Favourite Quotes;

 “One thing I learned a long time ago is that even if you think you're meant to be with someone, that doesn't necessarily mean you get to be with them.”  “When unrequited love is the most expensive thing on the menu, sometimes you settle for the daily special.” 

I give Catching Jordan 4 stars out of 5

Have you read Catching Jordan yet? What did you think of it? If you haven’t do you want to?

Book Review: Percy Jackson:The Last Olympian (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #5) by Rick Riordan

First Published: May 5^th 2009

Pages: 381 (hardback)

Publisher: Disney Hyperion Books

ISBN: 1423101502 

Book Depository - AmazonUK - Amazon US

Synopsis 

All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds are against them. Kronos is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, his power only grows. 

In this momentous final book in the "New York Times" best-selling series, the prophecy surrounding Percy's sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.

Review

What an epic, perfect ending to a brilliant series. I just cannot get over how amazing series this was, and now it’s ended. Again it was full of action, unexpected events, and scenes that pull a smile on my face.

The Action was amped up in The Last Olympian, with the war coming to its peak, and the climax of the series, the prophecy finally coming to its moment. One thing I have to say about this book that it made me think about hard, trying to imagine how, how these Demi-Gods are just so young and they are fighting a war, I know it’s not real and all, but the way Rick wrote and just the whole premise of these books made me reflect about it. It made me imagine how hard it was in WWI and WWII and all those young men fighting. The book starts off with a bang and there is never a dull moment.  There was either war action, or conflict between characters.

I really enjoyed that it was fast paced, like the other novels right from the beginning we can already see things are going to move quickly. There was not a moment where I wanted to put the book down, all I wanted to do was to keep reading and reading.  I found that with all the books the Percy Jackson and the Olympian Series they were all fasted paced but I think The Last Olympian was the most fasted paced out of all of them.

I have probably said this in all of my reviews on the Series, but I love Mythology, especially, Greek Mythology. And I love the way that Rick Riordan incorporates his views on ancient stories. So I loved all seeing and hearing about all the gods and all the Mythology creatures and all about the world, from the heroes to the villains.

Most of the Characters development throughout the series, but I think the Characters development the most in The Last Olympian. They all grow more, especially Percy. He learns to deal with uneasy situations and ones that at the start of the series would not have overcome. I love that we get to see his growth throughout the series, we finally to get to see him grown up. I also like that we get to see ‘normal’ teenage situations occur. It makes the characters more real in a sense.

After wanting to strangle Annabeth for the way she always stands up for Luke, she finally realizes that Luke isn't Luke anymore. It was really happy and heartbreaking at the same time, she finally realizes that he has change in more than one sense, but she also has to come to terms with the circumstances.

Annabeth and Percy's relationship is kind of strained and Rachel showing up isn't helping matters, but after the long wait off 4 books and the war. We finally get to see them together and happy to a point. The end scene, made the fangirl of me, squeal.

We also get to see some other characters such as Clarisse and Grover and all the other demi-gods. We also get to see Tyson again, whom I love to bits.

We finally get to see how the prophecy plays out. I was so what shocked with what happen but not completely as I did guess something bad would happen, just not what occur. We all also find out more about Luke's past, which I thought was great characterisation from Riordan. Many other secrets that come to light, which held to the climax of the book and the series.

I enjoyed this series so much, they were fun, emotional, light reads. That put a smile on my face. I recommend everyone to read these books, they are for everyone. But if you love Mythology, then grab this now. Also people of any age will love these books. I’m 16 and I just was mesmerised by them. I cannot wait to start the Heroes of Olympus Series.  

Some of my Favourite Quotes;

“With great power... comes great need to take a nap. Wake me up later.” 

 “It's hard to enjoy practical jokes when your whole life feels like one.”

I have to give this book nothing else than a 5 stars out of  5 

Have you read the Percy Jackson Series yet? What did you think of it? If you haven’t has my review helped in your decision to read it?

Book Review: Slide by Jill Hathaway

First Published: March 1st 2012

Pages: 257 (paperback)

Publisher: HarperCollins

ISBN: 0007446373 

Book Depository - AmazonUK - Amazon US

Synopsis 

Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth--her sister's friend Sophie didn't kill herself. She was murdered.

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn't actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else's mind and experiences the world through that person's eyes. She's slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed "friend" when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie's slashed body.

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can't bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting distant lately, especially now that she's been spending more time with Zane.

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

Review

I knew nothing about Slide when I first picked it up in the bargain bin on the Book Depository but I am very happy I did. It was a refreshing, interesting, quick read. I had never read any murder mystery novels before Slide, which is wired as I love all those types of TV shows.  Jill Hathaway skilfully welds together a mystery novel while carefully adding a touch of romance and cleverly addressing contemporary issues.

I love that Jill Hathaway had the ability to write well rendered characters and their relationships with others. . We've got very deep, emotional issues that are touched in this story. Absentee fathers, deaths, bullying, affairs - she was able to create serious life problems that are somewhat dramatic, but also sincerely realistic.

I really enjoyed Slide’s protagonist Vee, she was a very strong, interesting character and I love the way Jill wrote her. I really like the voice that she gave to Vee, she was somewhat easy to relate to. I am a lover of strong female characters, so I think that is one of the main reasons why I loved Slide so much. Vee has so much going on her life, yet she remains headstrong.  She did make a fair few mistakes but I think that is what makes her more real; which makes her easier to relate to.  It's incredible the way Vee deals with difficult situations she's thrown into.

I loved the character of Rollins; he was a mystery at first. But when I did find out why he was all mysterious, what he really was ‘hiding’  I admired him a great deal more and it made him that more amazing. I found alot of Jill’s character very realistic and I think that’s what I really enjoyed.

 I was and still am fascinated by her ability to ‘Slide’ into someone mind. It was new and unexplored.  It was quite interesting and it made me think about, what would it be like, if this was real, if I was able to do this. In the end I don’t think that’s the best idea because, you might see, like Vee does, things you don’t want to see. Things that you will be haunted by forever. But in saying that the way that the way that Jill wrote about the ability to slide was very captivating, and what drew me in, in the first place.

The murder mystery was a very compelling component of the book as it was what kept me glued to the pages, desperate to finally uncover the culprit. All sorts of twists and red-herrings were included, creating a gripping plot that was full of suspense.  I to some extent I thought I knew whom the murder was, as there was hints of foreshadowing, but I was never fully certain until it is said whom the murder is and in that was not very shocked at whom, but why. That was very much unexpected.

I expected Slide to center more on the romance, but the first half was practically romance-free, and I must admit I’m glad that was the case. I love novels that are not solely based on romance and everything revolves around it, I think that’s one of the main things I enjoyed about this novel. It let me take in the mystery elements, Vee’s ability, her loneliness and her fears, more seriously and it gave the story more weight. 

The enjoyed Jill writing style but I did find it that there were choppy sentences, oddly specific figurative language, that kind of thing. That is probably the only bad thing I can really say about this well.

I found it middle paced, in a sense that it was not fasted paced but not slow at all. Just right in the middle, this was quite pleasing. I was a nice quick read that I read in a few hours, which kept me hooked to the very end.

Quotes that I liked;

“People have emotional ties to books, more often than you think...” 

“His hands are behind his back.'Choose,' he says.'I've already made my choice,' I say, and I grab the sleeve of his leather jacket and pull him inside.”

I Give this book a 4 stars out of 5.

Have you read Slide? What did you think of it? Will you read it?

Book Review: Seven Day Fiancé (Love and Games #2) by Rachel Harris

First Published: October 14th 2013

Pages: 211 (ebook)

Publisher:  Entangled: Bliss

ISBN: 1622662385 

 AmazonUK - Amazon US - Kobo

Synopsis 

Angelle Prejean is in a pickle. Her family is expecting her to come home with a fiancé—a fiancé who doesn't exist. Well, he exists, but he definitely has no idea Angelle told her mama they were engaged. Tattooed, muscled, and hotter than sin, Cane can reduce Angelle to a hot mess with one look—and leave her heart a mess if she falls for him. But when she ends up winning Cane at a charity bachelor auction, she knows just how to solve her fiancé problem.

Cane Robicheaux is no one’s prince. He doesn't do relationships and he doesn't fall in love. When sweet, sultry-voiced Angelle propositions him, he hopes their little game can finally get her out of his head. He doesn't expect her to break through all his barriers. But even as Angelle burrows deeper into his heart, he knows once their seven days are up, so is their ruse.

Review

I received an ARC of Seven Day Fiancé and in return a honest review. I am so glad I received this book as I adored it. It was a fun, entertaining read. 

I had not read a Rachel Harris book going into reading Seven Day Fiancé including the first in the series but you don’t need to read the first book to be able to read this one. I really didn't get confused, and I didn't even realise it was the second in a series. But now that I know I have to pick the first book up.

The way that Rachel Harris writes in this book was very intriguing and the word choice was very advance which was pleasant refreshment from reading YA novels. Everything was very detailed and it made me visualize everything happening, where it was happening and what was happening so much more. I also found there were a fair few metaphors in the book and I quite enjoyed it. It made it quite different to what I have read before. 

I really loved most of the characters. They were quite enjoyable to read about and see them slowly develop. I love that Angelle is not that annoying main character we sometimes get in books that always complain. She is like this innocent girl and it takes her ages to admit what she is really thinking, but once she does oh my. I like her I normally read characters that are very confident in themselves.

Cane, Cane, Cane. What can I say about Cane, not is he hot and sexy, he is amazing and sweet.  The way he talks about Angelle about her is just so cute yet so hot. He talks to her so sweetly but then steamy. I love the contrast of both. That he can be this beautiful man that talks about his love like she is a queen but then talks like she is the sexiest human in the world.

They both have these barriers up, but once they get to know each other they let them down. I love the development of this in the book and how they slowly start to fall for each other even though it is only 7 days it seems so much more, I kind of forgot it’s was only 7 Days. The Chemistry between Angelle and Cane was so well done. Watching both of them slowly get to know each other and in due course have nearly everyone believing that there in a relationship expect themselves, was perfect. I wanted to scream so many times and tell them just to get together already.

Pretty much, the whole book but a smile on my face. It was funny, and steamy and I loved it. The Scene where Cane meets Angelle’s family was hilarious, it remained me of My Big Fat Greek Wedding where he meets her family, I have no idea why but it did. And if you have not seen that movie Shame on you! But there were some moments when I felt like I wanted to cry, especially when Angelle tells Cane what happen to her sister, It was such a powerful scene and so emotional. Also when Cane realizes her loves Angelle, I just felt so bad for him, but then I didn't but my feelings. And the letter oh my, they letter.  I loved all the clique scene, I love romance so, they made me melt.

The only thing I wanted more of was character development I just felt it lacked a little bit. Not alot, but I felt like I need more.  I really liked the story line, yes there is probably many of these type of stories around, but I don’t know why this book stands out to me.

  

I Give this book a 4 out of 5 Stars.

Have you read Seven Day Fiancé? What did you think of yet? If you haven’t would you read it

Book Review: Percy Jackson: The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #4) by Rick Riordan

First Published: April 7^th 2009

Pages: 361 (paperback)

Publisher: Disney Hyperion Books, Puffin Books 

ISBN: 1423101499

Book Depository - Amazon UK - Amazon US

Synopsis 

Percy Jackson isn't expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to diabolical. 

In this latest installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos's army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop them, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth-a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn.

Full of humor and heart-pounding action, this fourth book promises to be their most thrilling adventure yet. 

Review

Rick Riordan has done it again. Each Book seems to get better and better and I don’t even know how.  Each book lives up to the expectations that the Percy Jackson series holds.  I never got bored reading The Battle of the Labyrinth. There was always something that got me interested and pulled me in. I never wanted to put the book down when a book makes me feel like this, I loved it. 

The signature humour of Rick Riordan still is very much present in this book but I also feel that The Battle of the Labyrinth had this serious tone to it. I think it’s because Percy and the rest of the character are becoming older and that the prophecy is impending. I also think it could a metaphor in such sense of Greek Mythology stories in the terms of tragedy and consequence. As well the characters are maturing and changing realistically from year to year so The Battle of the Labyrinth is also richer in romance and the dark elements increase as the characters age up. 

 Again it’s an action packed, cliff hanging book that you don’t want to put down. I love action and the action in The Battle of the Labyrinth is pretty awesome.  Practically from the first few pages we have action. You have no idea when danger is near and you want to scream at those characters that go straight into the danger. And then you have those moments when the ends of chapters leave you on the edge of your seat wanting more. 

I love Greek Mythology and one of my favourite myths is Thesues and the Minotaur. So having a whole book based on the setting of the Labyrinth is pretty epic.  In the book we get more in depth of some of the well-known Greek Characters, like Daedalus, the father of Icarus. I think that Rick’s take on Daedalus about his life after the fall was very original and intriguing.

There is trouble again forming in Camp Half Blood. There is another way to get into camp and that's through the Labyrinth (I don’t think this is too much of a spoiler as it is said in the title that they are going into a Labyrinth) So the Gang set off to try and find a way to stop this from happening. 

There is trouble again forming in Camp Half Blood. There is another way to get into camp and that through the Labyrinth (I don’t think this is too much of a spoiler as it is said in the title that they are going into a Labyrinth) So the Gang go down to try and find a way to stop this from happening.

As I read the journey through the Labyrinth I was captivated and so into the story as the Labyrinth is believed to be one of the only  architecture that constantly changes. So you don’t know what was going to happen next, what tunnels would change, new tunnels pop up, traps are in the most unexpected places and monsters could be anywhere.

I love how we get to see new and old characters. Percy is growing and maturing. He is finding more about himself and others. Annabeth is finding it hard to let go of her past and how much Luke really means to her. We also get to see Tyson again and I just love him alot. The way that Rick writes him, makes me put a smile onto my face.

I also believe that in all the Percy Jackson books the young characters are always faced with difficult decisions that affect more than just their individual lives. You can change your actions but the impact of your choices can sometimes be everlasting. This is shown alot through The Battle of the Labyrinth and  I think that is something that everyone can get out of reading the books. 

Some Quotes that I liked; 

“Be careful of love. It'll twist your brain around and leave you thinking up is down and right is wrong.”

“People are more difficult to work with than machines. And when you break a person, he can't be fixed.”

So I Give Percy Jackson: The Battle of the Labyrinth 5 stars out of 5.

Have you read The Battle of the Labyrinth? What did you think of it? If you haven’t do you want to read it?