Review: In Place of Never by Julie Anne Lindsey

Can the truth set her free?…

A part of Mercy died the summer her sister tragically drowned. Now Mercy has a chance to discover if Faith’s death was an accident—or murder. Her first step is to confront the lead suspects: a band of traveling gypsies—the last people who saw her sister alive. But Mercy finds an unexpected ally in Cross, the soulful musician in their ranks. He’s a kindred spirit, someone who sees into her heart for the first time in, well, forever. Yet stirring up the past puts Mercy in danger…

Suddenly someone is shadowing Mercy’s every move, making her even more determined to uncover the facts. With Cross by her side, she is ready to face it all, even if that means opening up to him, knowing he may one day leave her. What she discovers is a truth that rocks the foundation of her small river town—and a love worth risking everything for…

In Place of Never was such an exciting read, with so many different things going on in it that sometimes it felt a little overwhelming. I loved the crime/mystery aspect and the way that it branched out and was resolved and all of the suspects had their motives, It was a really well-written, well-established mystery-thriller and I enjoyed it much more than I expected.

I did feel like Mercy rushed into things. Getting involved with Cross, who clearly was part of the group of people that her own father is responsible for her sister's death. Sure, Cross wasn't even part of the troupe in the time of Faith's death but still! I mean, of course everything turned out well but why did she feel this urge to find answers two years later - chasing up people who might hhave put it all behind them. Is that fair?

I also felt like Julie Anne Lindsey was trying to hard to put loads of different things into this book. The preacher dad, the circus troupe, the gypsy mysteries, the drowning, the stalker - it all seemed a little bit too much at times and things didn't tie together as well as they might have if all the stuff had been cut down.

Overall, this was a really exciting thriller book with a lot of things in it. I did enjoy it, but there were some things that felt forced and weren't resolved...

Book released 2nd February 2016 by Lyrical Press

Book received from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review

Review: Life at the Speed of Us by Heather Sappenfield

Silence is safe. Fate is not.

When Sovern Briggs survives a car crash, she stops talking to seal in the memory of the final sounds from her mother’s life. As conflict with her father builds and failure in school looms, Sovern seeks relief in a dangerous boyfriend and in speed’s adrenaline edge. These needs collide, leading Sovern to a snowboarding accident that changes her future and perhaps that of our universe.

Life at the Speed of Us weaves dyslexia, math, cutting-edge science, genius, and love into a young woman’s reluctant journey toward grace.

Maybe I missed the point altogether, or maybe I just didn't read far enough to get to it.

My personal opinion is that if I can get a third through a book and not really get into it, I will allow myself to give up and post a DNF review, I know a lot of reviewers get squeamish about DNF reviews, but I do not. If I have given the book a fair trial and still find it guilty of not entertaining me, I see no harm in saying so.

Life at the Speed of Us was one of those books - I think I knew it was a DNF from 10% but I kept pushing and when I got to 35% and nothing was making sense and I had no idea of where this was going and didn't even like the characters, I gave up.

I felt that Sovern was a very boring main character and her internal monologue was honestly so annoying. The setting of the ski slopes was nice, but that isn't enough to make me want to read a book.

As I say with all DNF reviews though -so many people liked this book! Just go onto Goodreads and you will see all the 4/5 star reviews - they aren't wrong, neither am I - if this sounds like your thing give it a go, then tell me how you felt about it!

Overall Rating: DNF

Book released 8th January 2016 by Flux

Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Review: A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

The last thing sixteen-year-old Jamie Watson–writer and great-great-grandson of the John Watson–wants is a rugby scholarship to Sherringford, a Connecticut prep school just an hour away from his estranged father. But that’s not the only complication: Sherringford is also home to Charlotte Holmes, the famous detective’s enigmatic, fiercely independent great-great-granddaughter, who’s inherited not just his genius but also his vices, volatile temperament, and expertly hidden vulnerability. Charlotte has been the object of his fascination for as long as he can remember–but from the moment they meet, there’s a tense energy between them, and they seem more destined to be rivals than anything else.

Then a Sherringford student dies under suspicious circumstances ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Holmes stories, and Jamie and Charlotte become the prime suspects. Convinced they’re being framed, they must race against the police to conduct their own investigation. As danger mounts, it becomes clear that nowhere is safe and the only people they can trust are each other.

Okay, let me admit something. I did not buy into the hype for this novel. A lot - a lot - of people have been raving about this but I've never really been into the whole Sherlock Holmes thing so I never thought I would request it. Then I saw a review saying it is a brilliant book even if you aren't a Sherlock fan and I thought I'd give it a go. 

I enjoyed this book infitisimal amounts more than I ever imagined I would. A Study in Charotte is tense, witty, tough and subtle in all the right ways. I thought Jamie was such a brilliant character to read about - his point of view made this book all the more enjoyable. He isn't a super tough main character though, at times he is wimpy. Like in the real Sherlock Holmes books, he comes in and saves the day numerous times and he is the common sense in the whole plan. The real main character in this book is Charlotte Holmes though - drug taking, chain smoking Charlotte Holmes who was nothing like I imagines. She is tough, but closed off. She had things happen to her before she came to Sherrington that makes her a bit damaged and I loved it. The whole relationship between her and Jamie was lovely but it was also so subtle that it doesn't take over the main mystery aspect of the whole book.

The mystery was so brilliant as well. So well executed and I was guessing the whole way through - who was the Sherrington murderer and why are they trying to frame Charlotte for it. The ending seemed so well thought through - the motive was there and I hadn't guessed the culprit but it also didn't seem forced - the signs were there through the whole book.

If I had but one gripe with this book it's that Charlotte's addiction to drugs was dealt with so badly - or more, it wasn't dealt with at all. It seems like such a big plot point that went completely ignored and I felt like this could have added a bit more depth into this book. It's the only thing that was slightly lacking.

Overall, A Study in Charlotte was a brilliant take on the Sherlock universe, where Sherlock and Holmes were real and so are their ancestors. You don't need to know that much about them though, because Charlotte and Jamie's story speaks for itself, and it does so with an amazing voice. Wow.

Book released 1st March 2016 by Katherine Tegan Books

Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Review: Assassin's Heart by Sarah Ahiers

In the kingdom of Lovero, nine rival Families of assassins lawfully kill people for a price. As a highly skilled member of one of these powerful clans, seventeen-year-old Lea Saldana has always trusted in the strength of her Family. Until she awakens to find them murdered and her home in flames. The Da Vias, the Saldanas’ biggest enemy, must be responsible—and Lea should have seen it coming. But her secret relationship with the Da Vias’ son, Val, has clouded her otherwise killer instinct—and given the Da Vias more reason than ever to take her Family down.

Racked with guilt and shattered over Val’s probable betrayal, Lea sets out to even the score, with her heart set on retaliation and only one thought clear in her mind: make the Da Vias pay.

With a gorgeous cover, a brilliant premise and a fantastic setting, Assassin's Heart could have been so much. It was, in fact, a good book, but I would not say it was as great as it could have been.

This book is like Romeo and Juliet mixed with Throne of Glass, without the power of either book. There is murder, intrigue, romance and action but in the way that I never felt fully absorbed into Lea's story. The thing is, I felt like Lea was one main problem in this book - Ahiers works so hard to make her a powerful, tough main character - she kills guiltlessly, feeling that it is her calling and that she is doing it for the good of her people and her religion - because of this, I think she became a bit of a flat character. When her Family is killed Ahiers tells us that Lea is angry, but I never really felt that fury, or saw the desolation. 

For this reason, it felt forced when we were made to think that Lea had feelings. When she meets Les and begins to develop feelings for him, it felt more like a plot device than a natural development. With Val, it seems okay because her feelings for him stem from desire and the need to feel loved more than anything else. Les is supposed to be real love - that was the difference.

I did love the fantasy elements in this book though. The lore is gorgeous and the ghosts are terrifying. I did feel that the event that happened at 70% was a cheap cop out though - using that religion as a deus ex machina to keep the story going in dire straits was a bit of an anti-climax and from there the rest of the book was a bit rushed... like Ahiers couldn't see the way out and just decided to end it, hence the rushed scenes at the Da Via's manor.

Overall, Assassin's Heart was a rich book with great fantasy, but the pace was very slow at times and the ending and the main character fell a bit flat for me...

Book released 2nd February 2016 by HarperTeen

Book received from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review

Review: Underneath Everything by Marcy Beller Paul

Mattie shouldn’t be at the bonfire. She should be finding new maps for her collection, hanging out with Kris, and steering clear of almost everyone else, especially Jolene. After all, Mattie and Kris dropped off the social scene the summer after sophomore year for a reason.

But now Mattie is a senior, and she’s sick of missing things. So here she is.

And there’s Jolene: Beautiful. Captivating. Just like the stories she wove. Mattie would know; she used to star in them. She and Jolene were best friends. Mattie has the scar on her palm to prove it, and Jolene has everything else, including Hudson.

But when Mattie runs into Hudson and gets a glimpse of what could have been, she decides to take it all back: the boyfriend, the friends, the life she was supposed to live. Problem is, Mattie can’t figure out where Jolene ends and she begins.

Because there’s something Mattie hasn’t told anyone—she walked away from Jolene over a year ago, but she never really left.

Usually, books which feed the past slowly, allowing the reader to become absorbed in finding out what happened prior to the book are very well received by me. Underneath Everything did just that, but I never felt like I got any answers in this book, making it quite a slow read for me and one that simply didn't impress me at any point.

Maybe I missed the point - I didn't really see a point - because this book is supposed to be poignant and meaningful but I tell absolutely no lie when I say that for me it was... not. There were some scenes which made me feel something, but for the most part Underneath Everything did nothing to me. It's like we were just told we were meant to care but not giving anything to take it past a shallow point - we weren't shown why.

If I have one thing to praise this book for it's Beller Paul's writing. It was abstract and bleak most of the time but I did enjoy reading it. I don't think it fit quite with this type of novel - there is definitely work to be done in the storytelling area as well - but i can see myself really enjoying books by this author. Just not Underneath Everything. 

Book released 27th October 2015 by Balzer+Bray

Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Review: Burning Glass by Kathryn Purdie

Sonya was born with the rare gift to feel what those around her feel—both physically and emotionally—a gift she’s kept hidden from the empire for seventeen long years. After a reckless mistake wipes out all the other girls with similar abilities, Sonya is hauled off to the palace and forced to serve the emperor as his sovereign Auraseer.

Tasked with sensing the intentions of would-be assassins, Sonya is under constant pressure to protect the emperor. One mistake, one small failure, will cost her own life and the lives of the few people left in the world who still trust her.

But Sonya’s power is untamed and reckless, her feelings easily usurped, and she sometimes can’t decipher when other people’s impulses end and her own begin. In a palace full of warring emotions and looming darkness, Sonya fears that the biggest danger to the empire may be herself.

As she struggles to wrangle her abilities, Sonya seeks refuge in her tenuous alliances with the volatile Emperor Valko and his idealistic younger brother, Anton, the crown prince. But when threats of revolution pit the two brothers against each other, Sonya must choose which brother to trust—and which to betray.

What a gorgeous, amazing read.

Burning Glass took a while to reel me in - from the start I wasn't even sure I would finish it - but when it did, after the first few chapters boy was I hooked. Burning Glass is waaaaay too long to be this good - I couldn't put it down and consequently I couldn't make food, I couldn't get ready for work (I was late and I debated pulling a sickie to finish this book). It was just... wow. Amazing.

Sonya, Anton, Valko, Pia... what amazing characters Purdie has written. She has created a dark and dangerous love triangle, a character with as many damning qualities as redeeming qualities and best of all, she made me like a character before killing them off! That, Purdie, is genius. I actually came to care about the character and as a result I totally believed in Sonya's rampage for revenge - thank you!!!

The writing and world building is so rich and fascinating and well done. I love how Purdie let us learn slowly the powers of the auraseer, as opposed to dumping it all on us so it felt forced. 

I just... can't even find words.

Yes, Burning Glass has potential to be more, Sonya has all the potential to become a badass like Celaena or Katsa, but I think that if this is Purdie at her debut, I cannot wait to see what she comes out with in a year's time.

Book released 1st March by KatherineTegen

Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Review: Behold the Bones by Natalie C. Parker

Candace “Candy” Pickens has been obsessed with the swamp lore of her tiny Louisiana town for . . . forever. Name any ghostly swamp figure and Candy will recite the entire tale in a way that will curl your toes and send chills up your spine.

That doesn’t mean Candy’s a believer, however. Even though she and her friends entered the swamp at the start of summer and left it changed, Candy’s the only one who can’t see or feel the magical swamp Shine. She’s also the only one who can’t see the ghosts that have been showing up and spooking everyone in town ever since. So Candy concentrates on other things—real things. Like fighting with her mother and plotting her escape from her crazy town.

But ghosts aren’t the only newcomers in Sticks, Louisiana. The King family arrives like a hurricane: in a blur and unwanted—at least by Candy. Mr. King is intent on filming the rumored ghostly activity for his hit TV show, Local Haunts. And while Candy can’t ignore how attracted she is to eighteen-year-old Gage King and how much his sister, Nova, wants to be friends, she’s still suspicious of the King family.

As Candy tries to figure out why the Kings are really in town and why the swamp that had previously cast her aside now seems to be invading every crack in her logical, cynical mind, she stumbles across the one piece of swamp lore she didn’t know. It’s a tale that’s more truth than myth, and may have all the answers . . . and its roots are in Candy’s own family tree.

I never read Beware The Wild and I wasn't aware that Behold the Bones was a sequel to it. I still enjoyed it, but sort of wish I had read Beware the Wild first as it sounds brilliant now I basically know the whole storyline. 

Behold the Bones is a really special book in that it didn't feel like I was reading a YA book - I felt like I was reading something super special and different. Maybe it's the setting - this rich, atmospheric southern swamp setting with it's peculiar characters and lore really made this book stand out. Maybe it was the romance, because it doesn't go a typical direction and despite the fact that we don't get to know the guy Candace ends up with that well, I still loved the way it went.

Candace was such a fantastic character - she's sarcastic and tough and a bit of a cow sometimes, but her voice was such a delight to read. I loved her friends, Sterling and Abigail, and I loved her cousins. I even really liked getting to know Nova and Gage and their father, and all of Candace's family. Parker has a brilliant way of making every single character stand out.

This book was tense and creepy, but not quite as spooky as I had been hoping when I picked it up. The climax was fast paced and I loved getting absorbed in the mystery behind Candace and her family, but at times the pace did slow quite substantially and I found myself losing interest a little.

Overall, Behold the Bones was such an engaging, well written book and I only wish I had read Beware the Wild earlier. Despite some pacing issues, I really enjoyed this book!

Book released 23rd February by HarperTeen

Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review