Waiting on Wednesday: Deception by C.J. Redwine (8)

DECEPTION
By: C.J. Redwine
Release Date: August 27th, 2013
Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Baalboden has been ravaged. The brutal Commander's whereabouts are unknown. And Rachel, grief stricken over her father's death, needs Logan more than ever. With their ragged group of survivors struggling to forge a future, it's up to Logan to become the leader they need—with Rachel by his side. Under constant threat from rival Carrington's army, who is after the device that controls the Cursed One, the group decides to abandon the ruins of their home and take their chances in the Wasteland.


But soon their problems intensify tenfold: someone—possibly inside their ranks—is sabotaging the survivors, picking them off one by one. The chaos and uncertainty of each day puts unbearable strain on Rachel and Logan, and it isn't long before they feel their love splintering. Even worse, as it becomes clear that the Commander will stop at nothing to destroy them, the band of survivors begins to question whether the price of freedom may be too great—and whether, hunted by their enemies and the murderous traitor in their midst, they can make it out of the Wasteland alive.

In this daring sequel to Defiance, with the world they once loved forever destroyed, Rachel and Logan must decide between a life on the run and standing their ground to fight.

~♥~

The covers in this series are really pretty. I love that the girl's cloak reveals what I am guessing is Baalboden. And if it isn't I NEVER SAID ANYTHING. 

Although if she's going to be running in that...

~♥~

Contact Kaede: 

Email: kimberlyho75@yahoo.com
Goodreads: Kaede
Twitter: Kami178xx

Cover Reveal: Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout

OBSESSION
By: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Release Date: May 31st, 2013
Publisher: Entangled Publishing/ Covet

He’s arrogant, domineering, and… To. Die. For.
Hunter is a ruthless killer. And the Department of Defense has him firmly in their grasp, which usually doesn’t chafe too badly because he gets to kill bad guys. Most of the time he enjoys his job. That is, until he’s saddled with something he’s never had to do before: protect a human from his mortal enemy.

Serena Cross didn’t believe her best friend when she claimed to have seen the son of a powerful senator turn into something…unnatural. Who would? But then she witnesses her friend’s murder at the hands of what can only be an alien, thrusting her into a world that will kill to protect their secret.

Hunter stirs Serena’s temper and her lust despite their differences. Soon he’s doing the unthinkable—breaking the rules he’s lived by, going against the government to keep Serena safe. But are the aliens and the government the biggest threats to Serena’s life…or is it Hunter?

 ~♥~

Twitter | Facebook | Website

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki.
Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.
She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

~♥~

Contact Kaede: 

Email: kimberlyho75@yahoo.com
Goodreads: Kaede
Twitter: Kami178xx

ARC Review of True by Erin McCarthy

TRUE
By: Erin McCarthy
Review by: Kaede
Release Date: May 7th, 2013

Publisher: InterMix
Pages: 238
Format: e-ARC
Source: NetGalley (Thank you, PENGUIN GROUP!)

  

When Rory Macintosh’s roommates find out that their studious and shy friend has never been with a guy, they decide that, as an act of kindness they’ll help her lose her virginity by hiring confident, tattooed bad boy Tyler Mann to do the job…unbeknownst to Rory.
Tyler knows he’s not good enough for Rory. She’s smart, doctor smart, while he’s barely scraping by at his EMT program, hoping to pull his younger brothers out of the hell their druggy mother has left them in. But he can’t resist taking up her roommates on an opportunity to get to know her better. There’s something about her honesty that keeps him coming back when he knows he shouldn’t…
Torn between common sense and desire, the two find themselves caught up in a passionate relationship. But when Tyler’s broken family threatens to destroy his future, and hers, Rory will need to decide whether to cut her ties to his risky world or follow her heart, no matter what the cost…

When I began reading True, I had no particular expectations for it to reach. I had come across True by chance, and began reading it for no other sake than to begin reading it and eventually review it. Fortunately, I end up liking True, but it is not a story that I can freely recommend. Enjoyable as it was, it was also not without it's flaws. 

I think True's main problem is that it feels formulaic. Like if New Adult books had a certain guideline that is recommended for authors to stick to, and McCarthy decided to follow it exactly. True isn't a bad book - in fact, it was quite likable, but it isn't anything...special. I think a little background information is needed. 

If there's anything you should know is that when it comes down to New Adult, I. Want. To. Tear. My. Hair. Out. It is most distressing for me when I look at a New Adult categorized book and think, "Wasn't this called something else?"

Because the fact of the matter is YES, I THINK YOUR BOOK WAS CALLED SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE IT SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE SOMETHING ELSE. New Adult tends to blend together for me because of what I've read of it, the core of the stories all seem the same. There are an exceptional few that have stood out though, and I'm sorry to say True isn't one of them.

But basically, if you are not the fondest, or looking for something extremely unique in New Adult, I would not push True as the book for you. Not to say that it has no originality, because I firmly believe every book has that in some portion, but it doesn't have an excessive amount that screams one-of-a-kind. But, if you are just looking for a New Adult Book to read, there's no harm in trying True. 

And like every cloud having a silver lining, True is not without it's good qualities. When I first heard of it, the story was pitched as, "Good Girl meets Bad Boy" and all the alarms went up. But after finishing it, and assuming Tyler is said bad boy, I really don't concur with that statement. I was led to believe I would probably have this ego bigger than his head jerk on my hands but Tyler was actually kind of a sweetheart, and apparently good at math. 

I had my problems with Rory and her friends, though. I disliked that Rory's friends even entertained the idea of paying somebody to have sex with her, because that's not what good friends so - especially behind your back. I also didn't like how the author chose the begin our introduction to Rory - an almost sexual assault scene. But that wasn't really the problem, and I wouldn't have any issues if I thought that it has handled appropriately. But a few pages after Rory was heroically saved by Tyler, the fact that she was close to being raped was barely brought up again. Because of that, I have reasons to believe rape was used as nothing more than a plot device and that is not okay. Sexual harassment of any kind is a serious issue and should not be used as something to just move your story alone.

Overall, True wasn't perfect. But it was engaging and compelling enough that I finished it very quickly. And while I didn't love it, True has captured my attention enough to spark intrigue for any sequels or companions that may be written. 

3 and ½ coffee cups!

**An advance copy of this book was provided  for review. However, all opinions remain honest and my own.**

~♥~

Discuss with me in the comments: Do you like New Adult? If so, what draws you in and what are some titles you'd recommend? 

~♥~

Contact Kaede: 

Email: kimberlyho75@yahoo.com
Goodreads: Kaede
Twitter: Kami178xx

ARC Review of How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True by Sarah Strohmeyer

HOW ZOE MADE HER DREAMS (MOSTLY) COME TRUE

By: Sarah Strohmeyer 

Review by: Kaede

Release Date: April 23rd, 2013

Publisher: Balzer & Bray

Pages: 320

Format: e-ARC 

Source: Edelweiss (Thank you, HarperCollins!)

Other Titles in the Series: N/A - Standalone

From Sarah Strohmeyer, author of Smart Girls Get What They Want, comes this romantic comedy about one girl's summer job from hell. Think The Devil Wears Prada set in Disney World.
When cousins Zoe and Jess land summer internships at the Fairyland Kingdom theme park, they are sure they've hit the jackpot. With perks like hot Abercrombie-like Prince Charmings and a chance to win the coveted $25,000 Dream & Do grant, what more could a girl want?
Once Zoe arrives, however, she's assigned to serve "The Queen"-Fairyland's boss from hell. From spoon-feeding her evil lapdog caviar, to fetching midnight sleeping tonics, Zoe fears she might not have what it takes to survive the summer, much less win the money.
Soon backstabbing interns, a runaway Cinderella, and cutthroat competition make Zoe's job more like a nightmare than a fairy tale. What will happen when Zoe is forced to choose between serving The Queen and saving the prince of her dreams?

How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True came extremely surprising, introducing a cast of characters that I fell in love with. 

While I've never read Strohmeyer's Smart Girls Get What They Want, I have heard enough praise for it, and for Strohmeyer is general, that I was fairly confident going into How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True that it'd be a book I'd enjoy. 

And enjoyed I did - and so much more. 

When cousins Zoe and Jess are accepted as summer interns at a Fairyland themed park, they're both certain it's the chance they've been waiting for. Because not only does Fairyland offer a happily-ever-after for all their children guests, but twenty-five thousand dollars will go to two lucky interns who've displayed the most Wow! spirit at the end of the summer. Both Zoe and Jess need the money, but only one of them can win it. But will either one of them even come close the prize, much less last the summer, with so many traitors and betrayals lurking around every corner. It won't be long until they realize that in a place where dreams were made to come true, the only person you can trust is yourself. 

I thought the author also did a really good job at capturing how low people are willing to stoop to get what they want. Some of the characters, and the way they treated Zoe, were just infuriating and I wanted to stomp on them. 

Zoe was a heroine to root for - kind, selfless, and smart. She was fully willing to put Jess first and help her win the Dream & Do grant, even though her late mother's medical bills were still lingering around with no way to pay them off. I liked that Zoe was perceptive and noticed traps that many young adult heroines would have walked right into and needed a hot guy to come around to save them afterward. 

How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True has a lot going for it, and one of it's strongest points was it's romance. Delightfully sweet, Strohmeyer manages to avoid creating relationships that overtake the story, but still keep the a big important part. Ian was completely lovable, and had me right from the beginning with his talk of chickens being vegetables. I was also secretly hoping that R.J. and Jess would get together so I could have a mega squeal-fest. Tehehe.

Zoe made her mistakes along the way - like bringing a chocolate croissant to the Queen (who I really liked and found her ridiculous needs and demands excessively amusing to read about) that is packed with calories and would sent her into a diabetic shock that could quite possibly kill her - but she learned from them, and that's something notable I always look for in characters. There's no harm in making mistakes if you learn from them and try your hardest not to do it again. And, I mean, as my mother always says, "The best way to learn is by experience." 

There were times where I was worried that Zoe and Jess would be changed by the competitive, all-or-nothing atmosphere they was in. The two girls were best friends, each with their own bright and good-hearted natures. That's why I was extremely relieved and happy when Zoe and Jess always stood by what they believed in.

How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True touches on a few darker subjects, but nothing too major. Overall, it was a hilarious, fun, contemporary read and exactly what I needed. I zoomed through the story, even staying up till a little past midnight to finish it. Zoe's narration was every bit as compelling as it was engaging, and certainly something worth recommending. 

5 coffee cups!

**An advance copy of this book was provided  for review. However, all opinions remain honest and my own.**

~♥~

Contact Kaede: 

Email: kimberlyho75@yahoo.com
Goodreads: Kaede
Twitter: Kami178xx

Waiting on Wednesday: The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa (7)

The Eternity Cure
By: Julie Kagawa
Release Date: April 30th, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.
Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.

~♥~

Since I have an advance readers copy of The Eternity Cure, in a way, it's fair game. But I have so many other review books stacked up and I still haven't read The Immortal Rules, so I'm having a hard time prioritizing this one. 

But I definitely want to read this. I love Julie Kagawa, and her Iron Fey series is one of my favorites. I did start The Immortal Rules, but I'm only a few chapters in. 

I'm aiming to get reviews of both books up before The Eternity Cure's release date, but if not, then early-middle May at latest. 

But oh, can't end off without:

KANINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN.

(Can you guess which character I like? I bet you can't. Pfft.)

Add THE ETERNITY CURE to Goodreads!

--

~♥~

Contact Kaede: 

Email: kimberlyho75@yahoo.com
Goodreads: Kaede
Twitter: Kami178xx

ARC Review of Chasing Mrs. Right by Katee Robert

Chasing Mrs. Right (#2)
By: Katee Robert
Review by: Kaede

Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Pages: 263
Format: e-ARC 
Source: NetGalley (Thank You, Entangled!)

Other Titles in the Series: Wrong Bed, Right Guy (#1), Two Wrongs, One Right (#3)

  

It was only supposed to last one night...
Ian had no idea the sexy woman he took to his bed was his little sister's best friend - or that she'd refuse to give him more than one night. Good thing this soldier likes a challenge...

"Sometimes there really is a happily ever after without any strings attached. You just have to be brave enough to face it." 

Roxanne doesn't believe in love. But Ian - Ian believes in love. And after what they just experienced together, there's no way he's just going to let her go.

Chasing Mrs. Right is published by Brazen, a line of Entangled Publishing that I love. It started with J. Lynn's Tempting the Player, and then I was hooked. I've loved every single book of Brazen's that I've read, and this one was no exception. I also seem to read all these Brazen titles in one sitting, and I'm now almost certain of my suspicion that somebody is putting addictive drug powers into the words I read. Which is a slightly creepy thought, but as long as these books keep being as good as they've been, I'm fine with it...kind of.

Katee Robert is an adult writer. If you aren't fond of sexual depictions, Chasing Mrs. Right isn't the book for you. However, if you don't mind that and enjoy dramatic tension, like good solid characters, and have a soft spot for quick, easy, but very likable reads - Roxanne and Ian's story is just the one for you!

I expected Ian to be a bad boy. I really, wholeheartedly, honestly did. But what I found was definitely not what I thought I'd find. Instead of an edgy boy with bad language, Ian was sincerely kind of sweet. He cared for Roxanne right from the very beginning when he helped her fix the leg she hurt. Despite that though, Ian did have a bit of roughness to him. Wearied down from his time in Afghanistan, peace and quiet are a luxury that isn't easy to come across. But with Roxanne, a woman he met by chance, he's comfortable and safe, and he can finally sleep through a night for a change. And before he knows it, he's falling for his little sister's best friend. 

Roxanne doesn't do long term relationships. Commitments and boyfriends never end well, a fact that Roxanne's all too aware of. But she never expected an encounter with a man who makes her want to take a chance, to want to jump even knowing she'll probably fall. A man that threatens everything she stands for, and threatens to tear down the walls she's spend so much time building. 

Roxanne and Ian have undeniable chemistry, and I loved watching their story unfold. But Chasing Mrs. Right also touched on some secondary characters that I would've like to see more of. I'll put Ellie, Gabe, and Nathan aside, since I know they have their own story - but the issue with Ian's mom I wanted more resolution too. I'm all for deficiency, and overly controlling, uncaring, self-absorbed parents will be the death of me. I hate grown ups who act like that, who think only of themselves and public image. I really wanted somebody, anybody, to stand up to Ian's mom and just say with a waggling finger, "Fuck off my life." Or at least...

But all in all, Chasing Mrs. Right was a solid installment. You don't need to have read the first in this series to enjoy this one. But even if you have or haven't, if you like adult contemporary, the second Coming Undone novel is one you won't want to miss.

4 coffee cups!

**An advance copy of this book was provided for review. However, all opinions remain honest and my own.**

~♥~

Contact Kaede: 

Email: kimberlyho75@yahoo.com
Goodreads: Kaede
Twitter: Kami178xx

ARC Review of Above World by Jenn Reese

Above World (#1)

By: Jenn Reese

Review by: Kaede

Release Date: February 14th, 2012

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Pages: 368

Format: Paperback ARC

Source: ARCycling (Thank you, ARCycling!) 

Other Titles in the Series: Mirage (#2)

  

Thirteen-year-old Aluna has lived her entire life under the ocean with the Coral Kampii in the City of Shifting Tides. But after centuries spent hidden from the Above World, her colony’s survival is in doubt. The Kampii’s breathing necklaces are failing, but the elders are unwilling to venture above water to seek answers. Only headstrong Aluna and her friend Hoku are stubborn and bold enough to face the terrors of land to search for way to save their people.

But can Aluna’s warrior spirit and Hoku’s tech-savvy keep them safe? Set in a world where overcrowding has led humans to adapt—growing tails to live under the ocean or wings to live on mountains—here is a ride through a future where greed and cruelty have gone unchecked, but the loyalty of friends remains true.

Jenn Reese's Above World is a story full of originality and creativity, turning the concept of underwater inhabitants into one with elaborate detail of diverse features. 

But contrary to the previous statement, my biggest and sole problem with Above World was it's simplicity. While it serves satisfactorily as a transition from middle grade to juvenile young adult, any reader used to or accustomed only to complex pieces of literature might find their minds wandering from the premise, and potentially require several tries to be drawn back to the world Reese created.  

I felt as if details that could have been spared were withheld, and the world - while intriguing - has yet to be fully developed and fleshed out to it's extent. However, the plot and characters did feel well executed and well planned, and the writing engaging. There were many times where I was so submerged (I HAD to make at least one lame water joke. I had too. It's like the world was begging me to.) in the story that I felt I actually belonged with Aluna and Hoku and was a part of their adventure.

Aluna and Hoku were two very loyal, very likable characters. A pair of best friends who were constantly traveling to new places, meeting new people - or new species, and fending off new creatures. I honestly grew quite fond of Aluna and Hoku by the end. 

I did have minor issues with the telling-not-showing aspect of the book, but my complaints were kept at a minority because the problem did not have a strong hold on the entire novel. It was only at certain scenes where the trait would reveal itself. 

I mentioned my regards on the simplicity of Above World earlier, and I'm going to touch upon that again, but in a more positive light. While I'm not the biggest fan of it, the simple nature of the story does help make understanding unfolding events and revelations easy. 

The development of the characters was solid, and I think many young readers will enjoy this sort of introduction to the vast containing dystopian genre. Above World isn't a book I can freely recommend to everybody, but I would push it for parents who are looking for an appropriate face-paced, entertaining, fun read for their child or children. Now Above World is part of a series, of which it's sequel has been released, but I think I'll hold off on continuing so soon. I'll definitely be purchasing a copy of Mirage, the second installment, one day, because I am interested to see where Aluna and Hoku's adventures will lead them next, but I'm in no hurry. But don't get me wrong - I definitely enjoyed Above World and while maybe not right away, I will eventually get to the sequel to read and review for you guys! 

And that's a promise. 

3 and ½ coffee cups!

**An advance copy of this book was provided  for review. However, all opinions remain honest and my own.**

~♥~

Contact Kaede: 

Email: kimberlyho75@yahoo.com
Goodreads: Kaede
Twitter: Kami178xx