Sunday 27 July 2014

Golden Blood by Melissa Pearl

Title: Golden Blood
Author: Melissa Pearl
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Online Ratings: 3.9 out of 5 stars

*I RECEIVED THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*

NO SPOILERS!

Summary from Goodreads:

Gemma Hart never knows when her father is going to whisk her back in time. Her toes start tingling and she has a few minutes to find a secret haven where she can disintegrate and appear in another time and place. While “across the line,” her training and skills are put to the test as she completes a mission that will change history for the lucky few her father has selected. 
Gemma's parents are adamant that secrecy is paramount to her family’s safety. If people knew what they were capable of, they could be "used and abused", as her mother always says. Afraid she might accidentally utter the truth and break the ancient oath of her people, Gemma spends her school days as a loner. Only one thing can throw her sheltered life askew... Harrison Granger.
Harrison never expected to talk to the strange Hart girl, but after a brief encounter he can't stop thinking about her. He begins a campaign to chisel away her icy veneer and is met with unexpected consequences. As he slowly wins this girl over, he enters a surreal world that has him fighting to keep his newfound love and his life.

My Opinion:

Golden Blood by Melissa Pearl is the first novel in the Time Spirit Trilogy. Golden Blood was the first 'time travel' novel I have ever read and I can happily state that this novel certainly won't be the last I read in this genre. This novel was a captivating, interesting and a fun read. I never seemed to be able to put this novel down after I started reading it. Melissa Pearl has written a beautifully structured novel with elegant writing skills which I applaud her for. Golden Blood's main female protagonist, Gemma Hart, is definitely a favourite female character of mine. Gemma can be best described as a shy girl who does anything to please her family even if that means to give up her social life. An introvert who is called the "freak" of the school  falls in love with Harrison Granger who is not a Time Traveler. Harrison Granger was one of the sweetest male protagonists I have read about. He is not judgemental as he never judged Gemma's social life and even though she is named as the "freak of the school" he still falls in love with her. The relationship is not pushed in any way and is paced quite well so both characters have a chance to learn more about each other. Gemma's family background is quite unique and different, an aspect of this novel which I enjoyed reading about. I loved learning more about Gemma and why her family does time travel. Of course I will not right the reasoning here as that is one of the mysteries to uncover while reading this novel. While reading the novel, look out for foreshadowing which I found Pearl added into this novel quite well. I would always read a paragraph and have many possibilities rushing to mind about why her family does time-traveling and why she is so unique but the truth was never revealed until the end of the novel. The setting of this novel is not only in the present day but also in different time periods hence the reason why this novel is based on time traveling. I really enjoyed this aspect of the novel and am looking forward to seeing more "time-traveling" scenes in the next few novels. The overall plot and issue of this novel was played out quite well and interesting scenes took place which I would have never imagined! This novel has gained my interest to start reading more novels based on time traveling. I can't wait to see how events unfold in the following novel.  I recommend teenagers and young adults to read this book- you will not regret it! Thank you so much Melissa Pearl for allowing me to review your phenomenal novel.

- Erisha <4 


Sunday 20 July 2014

In This Life by Terri Herman-Poncé

Title: In This Life
Author: Terri Herman-Poncé
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Online Ratings: 4.4 out of 5 stars

*I RECEIVED THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*

NO SPOILERS!

Summary from Goodreads:

When psychologist Lottie Morgan meets Galen, their encounter is as intense as it is eye-opening. Something about him is familiar. His looks. His words. His touch…
Lottie can’t resist the urge to know more about him, or the smouldering memories that surface every time he’s near. Only Galen’s keeping a dangerous secret, one linked to a life shared thousands of years ago. One that could destroy the relationship Lottie has with her current lover David.
One that is about to cost Lottie her life—again.
Take a trip to mysterious ancient Egypt, where powerful passions ignite and deadly deceptions begin. The Past Life Series starts here.

My Opinion: 

In This Life by Terri Poncé is the first novel in a new romance series known as The Past Life series. This novel was a fun read which I extremely enjoyed. In This Life was a mysterious but captivating read making it an easy "page-turner"- I found it quite difficult to put down this book once I started reading it. I adored how Poncé really built up the tension in this novel and kept all the mysteries unsolved until the end making this an interesting but at times a terrifying read. The main plot/ complication was very unique and definitely reached out to me. This novel was one of the first mystery novels I have read that I actually found easy to connect with which was also many "plus points" for this novel. The characters were relatable too and I felt all the emotions of each character which proves that Poncé is a phenomenal writer. The female protagonist, Lottie Morgan who is a psychologist, had a very strong but confused character. Lottie conveyed the idea of being multi-dimensional which made the readers connect and relate to her more. The two male protagonists, David and Galen, were two very interesting characters. David being brave as strong while Galen was mysterious and scary at times. These two different personalities contrasted well with Lottie's character and together, these three protagonists definitely made this novel more captivating to read. I have to applaud Poncé for setting up such a beautiful world- not only did she write the modern world beautifully but also the ancient Egyptian world was also written phenomenally. I felt I was actually in Ancient Egypt when Lottie experienced flashbacks to her past life. Discovering new traditions in Ancient Egypt had to be one of my favourite scenes in this novel! I recommend all teenagers and new adults to read this novel- I can assure you that you won't regret reading this beautiful novel! I am really excited to read the next novel in this series and see how the story of Lottie, David & Galen proceeds. 

- Erisha <4 


Wednesday 9 July 2014

Ex-Factor by Elisa Dane

Title: Ex-Factor
Author: Elisa Dane
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 
Online Ratings: 4 out of 5 stars

*I RECEIVED THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*

NO SPOILERS!

Summary from Goodreads:

Nevaeh Evan’s life is uprooted after her father’s death, when she moves in with her aunt and cousin, Livvie. Her plan to lay low at her new high school isn’t working. Her friend’s jerky boyfriend keeps asking her out, the guy she likes treats her like garbage, and the thought of tumbling again makes her want to hurl. 
So when her aunt pushes her into joining the elite X-FACTOR cheer leading squad, Navaeh goes along with it. 
But Nev feels she doesn’t deserve to be happy. Not after what happened the night her father died. 
Bodie Scott knows about grief all too well. Critically injured in an alcohol related accident the year before, Bodie struggles with the fact that he’ll never play football again, and he’s so far behind in credits he can’t see straight. That is, until he meets Nev. Haunted by their bloody pasts and wary of a shared future, Nev and Bodie turn to one another for comfort and support, and realise they’re not so alone after all. And when the party scene at school threatens the life of a loved one, the two stop at nothing to keep the past from repeating itself.

My Opinion: 

Ex-Factor is the first novel in Elisa Dane's new series, "The Diamond Girls". Ex-Factor was a fantastic, relatable novel and this novel perfectly conveyed the dangers of drink driving. The message of, "Don't Drink and Drive" was stressed throughout this whole novel which definitely reached out to me and caught my attention. Ex-Factor follows the story of a young, confused but brave teenager, Nevaeh (Nev). Even after facing terrible adversities, her courageous character is outstanding throughout the whole novel. Bodie, the male protagonist of this novel, also just like Nev has many dark secrets of his own. He has faced many difficulties and the unique ways he overcomes those obstacles is brilliant. Nev and Bodie's relationship was not forced in any way but in fact a sweet, reliable, trustworthy relationship making the novel an enjoyable read. I adored the times Nev would 'break down her walls' for Bodie just to release her emotions and convey the idea she needs help. This does not show weakness but in fact shows a multidimensional character which makes her more realistic and easier to understand. The way both of them could help each other in their difficulties by supporting each other was phenomenal and definitely a key element in a good relationship. Elisa Dane's writing skills is quite elegant & beautiful and this was conveyed during the scenes of Nev cheer leading. I am not so familiar with the rules and techniques of cheer leading but Elisa Dane has written all the cheer leading scenes in this novel phenomenally that now even I know a few techniques. I was never confused by all the 'cheer leading references' which is what made this novel a fun, unique experience. I definitely recommend this novel  to teenagers as it is a beautiful novel with an important message of "Don't Drink & Drive". I feel in love with this novel in the first few pages and I can assure you that you will fall I love with this novel too. I can't wait to continue the series and a lot of thanks to Elisa Dane for sending me an ebook- I greatly appreciate it. 

- Erisha <4 

Friday 4 July 2014

Tortuous Shadows by Jennifer Parr

Title: Tortuous Shadows
Author: Jennifer Parr
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Online Ratings: 4.5 out of 5 stars

*I RECEIVED THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*

NO SPOILERS! 

Summary from Goodreads:

Eighteen-year-old Aria Morgan, along with her mother and Dviinu brother, Aaron, are virtually nonexistent members of Avalon Valley, a remote village cupped in the hands of paradise. Outcast since birth, Aria has resigned herself to the grim reality that, without finding love and bearing a child in the next few years, she will die - the unkind result of the Darkness' unrelenting grip on humanity.
But when a harrowing ordeal brings Aria's end hauntingly near, fate intervenes in the form of Liam Trey, handsome Avalon Valley newcomer. Liam is the kind of guy Aria can see herself having a future with, but her sordid family history follows her like shadows. If she bares her secrets, Liam could reject her, but what does she have to lose?
Despite her fears, Liam has fallen for Aria and so begins their relationship, fragile at best, troubled at worst, and tested to no end. Still, Aria's future has never been brighter...until Liam is shunned for his association with her, and a warning brings Aria face to face with a decision that will cost her everything she thought she'd never have.
Ringing with dystopian undertones, Tortuous Shadows delivers a rich, old-world feel to modern-day romantics of any age, as Aria is thrust into a journey that leads her down a path to love, redemption, and eternal purpose. Aria's journey continues in Better Shade, book two of the Avalon Valley trilogy - available soon.

My Opinion: 

Tortuous Shadows by Jennifer Parr is the first novel in a romance series. This novel was based around the romance of Aria and Liam, the main protagonists of the story. Aria's character was personally my favourite as she was quite strong and brave but also faced a lot of hardships. I adored how she overcame each adversity in her relationship with Liam as she always remained strong. Aria also proved to be a multi-dimensional character as, at times I felt she was quite dependent on others but I loved how realistic her character was, making her easier to relate too. Liam's character was one of the cutest male fictional character that I have read about.  Liam and Aria's relationship is not rushed at all but I felt in the beginning they moved into this relationship quite fast, making it less realistic as 'love at first sight' doesn't really happen in reality. But apart from that, I adored their relationship as they did not force each other into anything and Liam was quite mature in the entire relationship- never taking advantage of Aria. He respected her decisions, supported her and always kept hope in her even when there were community/ family complications. Parr's novel was left in a cliff hanger having me dying to read the next novel as soon as possible. The setting of the novel was conveyed in almost a dystopian style which I loved as I am a huge dystopian fan. Jennifer Parr definitely explained the setting of the novel thoroughly through her phenomenal writing style. A negative from this novel would have to be the main issue and complication. I felt the main issue wasn't 'stressed' enough to us, the readers, and the complication wasn't such a big issue. I really wished there was another storyline apart from romance as it would've definitely given this novel a more interesting plot to read about. Since this is a series, I am eagerly waiting for the next novel to be released as I really want answers to unsolved questions from this novel. I love how Jennifer Parr kept the suspense all throughout the novel and her writing style is quite elegant and descriptive which made me really enjoy this novel more. I definitely recommend this novel to teenagers who love reading romance and dystopian novels. This novel was a fun read and it has been a great experience entering Jennifer Parr's dystopian world. 

- Erisha <4 

Tuesday 1 July 2014

Ninety Degrees by Megan Duke

Title: Ninety Degrees
Author: Megan Duke
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Online Ratings: 4.6 out of 5 stars

*I RECEIVED THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*

NO SPOILERS! 

Summary from Goodreads: 

Ninety Degrees is the story behind Silas McFuller's senior year at Chattanooga Prep. He and his best friend, Charleigh McAfee, have never cared about grades or ACT scores. Their drive stems from creativity and pushing the boundaries when it comes to the arts and the world around them. They've got one year left of high school, and they want to make it count. For Charleigh, that means crossing into dangerous territory alongside a rebel with a southern drawl. For Silas, it means letting go of reasoning and finally letting his true self shine. Readers of the Small Circles books know better than any that life is short, and within that small spanse of time, it's okay to be happy.

My Opinion: 

Ninety Degrees by Megan Duke was a  precursor to her amazing series, Small Circles. Ninety Degrees was a fun, amusing, quick read which definitely kept my interest throughout the whole novel. This novel is quite unique to Duke's other novels as it is following supporting characters in Small Circles and their lives before meeting the Small Circles characters. The male protagonist of this novel, Silas McFuller, was definitely a character who showed character growth. From being a gullible, used boy to a strong man, we see the character development. Silas went through a lot of troubles and also managed to handle them well. Learning more about Silas' past was an adventure I enjoyed as I was interested to see his life before meeting Larson. Charleigh was my favourite character throughout this entire novel. Her fun, wild spirit definitely made this book an interesting ride. Charleigh's character faced a lot of hurdles and experiencing these hurdles with her really helped create a soft spot in our hearts for her. From the outside, her character might seem careless and fun but getting to know her personally conveyed all the insecurities she goes through- just like a normal teenage girl. This novel had a brilliant setting and it was quite detailed which helped draw the readers closer into the novel. Megan Duke's writing skills are quite elegant helping to draw all the unanswered questions beautifully at the end. Duke writing style is phenomenal as I found it really easy to fit into the current situation/ conflict that had been aroused. The plot was absolutely amazing- it was unique and definitely relatable too. As a teenager, I felt it was easy to fit into the story as we see hardships at school or even on the television and Duke brought these problems 'to life' through her novel giving teenagers an insight on how difficult things can become if you choose the wrong path in life. This novel is not only relatable too but is also quite honest and inspiring. Duke made us realise that it's okay to be happy and to do what our heart wants. From this novel I have learnt many life goals such as, always follow your dream and heart. I definitely recommend this series, Small Circles, to teenagers as these novels will really inspire them in life. 

- Erisha <4