Audio Review: The Program (The Program, #1) by Suzanne Young

Title: The Program (The Program, #1)
Author: Suzanne Young
Narrator: Joy Osmanski
Published by: Simon and Schuster Audio
Length: 10 hrs and 57 min
Source: Publisher
Format: Audio
Rating: 4 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane's parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they'll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who's been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone, but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He's promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it's getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

Emotionally stunning, and thought provoking.    

Oh where to start with this one.  First, The Program deals with the issues of depression and suicide.  In this dystopian-like world, if someone shows any bit of sadness or emotional instability they get sent into the program which "fixes' them so as they won't become part of the epidemic leading to teens taking their own lives.  However, the program's version of help is to erase all memories of pain and much of everything else as well, removing people and parts of each persons life from their own memories.  Talk about completely disorienting and horrifying.    

I feel so conflicted about all of this.  Of course I would love for there to be a fix all for anything, but that fix all doesn't mean taking away a person's memories.  Plus the fear and isolation that these teens go through everyday trying to avoid the program is painful in itself.  To not be able to grieve someone who has come out of the program and no longer knows you, or worse someone you love takes their own life and you cant shed a tear, but instead have to hide all emotion.  How can you not be sad and grieve, but to have that lurking horror of being thrown into the program as well makes their whole situation terrifying.  

Somehow Sloan and James seem to having been making it through.  They are such a great couple and really find strength in one another.  This was a highlight of the book for me.  They truly were each other's rock and there were times when their joy and happiness came streaming off the pages (or through the earphone in my case).  There were some other really great characters in this novel as well.  I'd like to say you were able to know many of them, but that was not always true...you did however get to experience much of their pain and sadness.  

I fear I am making this sound like a depressing book.  Yes at times it was, but it was written in a way that broke through all of that and made it beautiful.  There is hope and there is happiness.  In this book it seems that depression is an epidemic that is taking over everyone's lives, but that was not always true.  Suzanne Young bring us this interwoven and complex situation and cast of characters that will defy the odds in some way or another...or at times give in to the pain.  You never really know what's going to happen until the end.  

I don't want to tell you too much about what happens in The Program because I feel that would give away the whole novel, so you'll just have to trust me that it was a great book.  However, it was slow at times, but I'm not sure if that was the writing or just that Suzanne Young was giving us time to think things over.  This is definitely one of those books that have you ruminating and reflecting quite often on not only what is happening to the characters, but to the world and how you feel about it all.  Also surprisingly I wasn't a fan of the narration.  I usually really enjoy Joy Osmanski as a reader, but she didn't do it for me as Sloan this time.  Something just felt off with her reading.    

The Program was quite thought-provoking one of those books that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.       

Audio Review: What the Spell? (Life's a Witch, #1) by Brittany Geragotelis

Title: What the Spell? (Life's a Witch, #1)
Author: Brittany Geragotelis
Narrator: Joy Osmanski
Published by: Simon and Schuster Audio
Length: 9hrs and 41 mins
Source: Simon Schuster Audio
Format: Audio
Rating: 2 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Almost-sixteen-year-old Brooklyn feels invisible, but she desperately wants to be pretty, to be popular, to be adored by a cute guy. Luckily for her, she’s a witch about to come of age—so she’s only a few spells away from making it all happen.

On her milestone birthday, Brooklyn’s conservative parents finally unbind her powers, which include the ability to magically match couples with a love spell. Brooklyn uses her special skills to get a makeover, new friends, and the attention of her crush, Asher. But the popular clique Brooklyn wants to infiltrate puts her in the same precarious position as her Salem ancestors: If she’s found out, she could be vilified—and lose Asher in the process. Can she make the most of her magic, or will she be luckless and loveless? Be careful what you witch for!

What the Spell? is a novel about one girl's quest for popularity with a twist of magic on the side.

I have always had a thing for witches ever since I first learned about the Salem Witch trials.  Everything about them fascinates me and when I can incorporate two things I love, witches and reading, I get really hopeful and excited.  

However, as much as I was looking forward to reading/listening to What the Spell? it fell short for me.  The main character Brooklyn left much to be desired of your main character.  She was a social climber and all she wanted from life was to be popular, mostly at the expense of others.  As soon as she came into her magic, she instantly gave herself a magical makeover.  This makeover wasn't a new hairstyle or a bit of makeup, instead she changed physical features (like her height) about herself to the point people in her school didn't recognizer her anymore.  Then her parents were all like "well just remember the Salem Witch trials."  What?  They bind her powers for sixteen years then just let her go way out of hand with this makeover and only issue a slight warning.  This just didn't make sense to me.

Then there is The Elite.  This is the popular group that Brooklyn strives to be part of because she believes that once she is one she can change the way they act towards others while still being popular.  This group seemed a little atypical to me.  Sure there are always rich and popular kids, but this group seemed to rule it all without any consequences.  They even had a raised table in the lunch room to set them apart.  At what public school is all that normal?  It just seemed like too much of an exaggeration for me.

One of the redeeming qualities of this book was Asher and his little sister.  I really enjoyed both of these characters as I thought they were the most believable and true to who they were.  I loved the interactions of these characters with Brooklyn and wish she would have seen how amazing they both really were compared to The Elite.  

As for the story is was cute at times and it kept my attention enough to finish listening, but I never really became a fan of Brooklyn until the very end.  It didn't have anything to do with Joy Osmanski narrating though.  I've listened to a couple other audios with her and I've enjoyed them all.  She has a great voice.  

What the Spell? was ok but there was a little too much drama and not enough magic for me.  Will I read/listen to the next one...probably but not because of Brooklyn.  I want to know more about that crazy ending with Asher.  Yikes!      

Audio Review: Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker

Title: Ten Tiny Breaths
Author: K.A. Tucker
Narrator: Elizabeth Louise
Published by: Simon and Schuster Audio
Length: 8 hr and 58 min
Source: Review copy from Simon and Schuster Audio*
Format: Audio
Rating: 4 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Four years ago Kacey Cleary’s life imploded when her car was hit by a drunk driver, killing her parents, boyfriend, and best friend. Still haunted by memories of being trapped inside, holding her boyfriend’s lifeless hand and listening to her mother take her last breath, Kacey wants to leave her past behind. Armed with two bus tickets, Kacey and her fifteen-year-old sister, Livie, escape Grand Rapids, Michigan, to start over in Miami. They’re struggling to make ends meet at first, but Kacey’s not worried. She can handle anything—anything but her mysterious neighbor in apartment 1D.

Trent Emerson has smoldering blue eyes, deep dimples, and perfectly skates that irresistible line between nice guy and bad boy. Hardened by her tragic past, Kacey is determined to keep everyone at a distance, but their mutual attraction is undeniable and Trent is determined to find a way into Kacey’s guarded heart—even if it means revealing an explosive secret that could shatter both of their worlds.

Ten Tiny Breaths was an emotional, heartbreaking story that was quite complex yet beautiful.  This story has it all. 

I am not really sure where to start with this novel.  There were so many layers to Ten Tiny Breaths and I can't believe how well K.A. Tucker weaved them together.  The first thing I want to discuss is the title.  Ten Tiny Breaths happens to be a coping mechanism that Kacey's mom taught her and let me tell you it definitely came in handy in this novel for Kacey during difficult times (and for me listening to them).  I loved how this was incorporated throughout the story and really connected Kacey to her past.  

Kacey herself was an emotional mess.  However, no matter what happened in her life she protected her sister.  Everything she did was for Livie and to keep her safe and happy.  I loved the relationship between these sisters and how they helped each other heal.  K.A. Tucker wrote the relationships between the women/girls in this story so well.  It is often difficult to write female relationships that are real and appropriate for different age groups and yet K.A. Tucker nailed it.    

Besides the female relationships, the interactions between Trent and Kacey left me frustrated and sometime breathless.  The tension between these two was ridiculous .  And I do not mean like it was silly ridiculous I meant it as  I do not know how other people could be in the same room as them and not feel suffocated or that they were witnessing something that was about to get inappropriate for an audience.  On another note, I am happy though that their relationship started slow (much to the disappointment of some readers and that tension that was swirling around) and progressed in a natural way .  Call me old fashion, but I did love how Trent came to the rescue all the time.  It was sweet.

I do not think you can discuss this novel without talking about the secrets and twists.  They are everywhere and take you by surprise.  At times I had to reread (re-listen) to parts just because I could not believe that just happened.  However I must admit that there were instances I felt like I had heard this story before.  It is not that I did not enjoy it, but it had many similar elements to other books out there.  

Elizabeth Louise was a great narrator.  Her edge to her voice fit Kacey perfectly and made me imagine the tough, protective, and broken character she was.  The audio help me with some of the pacing issues and also from stopping myself from skimming parts because I wanted to get to the "good stuff."  Sometimes I get too caught up in a story line and want to skip all the minutiae and only read the stuff relevant to the situation at hand.  

If you are looking for something that is beautiful but in a broken way, Ten Tiny Breaths is for you.

*I did receive a copy of this audio book for review, but all opinions are my own.

Review of MILA 2.0 by Debra Driza

Title: MILA 2.0 (MILA 2.0, #1)
Author: Debra Driza
Published by: HarperCollins
Pages: 480
Source: Publisher/Edelweiss
Format: ebook
Rating: 4 stars

Summary from Goodreads : Mila was living with her mother in a small Minnesota town when she discovered she was also living a lie. 

She was never meant to learn the truth about her identity. She was never supposed to remember the past—that she was built in a computer science lab and programmed to do things real people would never do.

Now she has no choice but to run—from the dangerous operatives who want her terminated because she knows too much, and from a mysterious group that wants to capture her alive and unlock her advanced technology.

Evading her enemies won't help Mila escape the cruel reality of what she is and cope with everything she has had to leave behind. However, what she's becoming is beyond anyone's imagination, including her own, and that just might save her life.

Futuristic, fun, and filled with action; MILA 2.0 is a book you wouldn't want to miss.  

What a wild ride.  While this book started out a bit slower, it ended with a spectacular fireworks.  Looking back I can't believe how much was crammed between the pages.  Seriously, by the end of the story there were games, explosions, high speed chases, crazy androids, and murderous scientists.  I flew through the pages trying to figure out how it was going to end and who was going to live.  It was a bit exhilarating.      

While Mila was just trying to be a normal teenager, things soon go south for her when she realizes she is a artificial being who is highly coveted.  Even though Mila is not human, she does have the emotions of a teenage girl making her both weaker and stronger for it.  This really plays out towards the end of the story as she uses her emotions to not only fights to save her own life, but also those of people she truly cares for.  

The one area of MILA 2.0 that I wasn't sold on was the characters.  Yes, I liked them, but I didn't connect with them.  Maybe it was due to the fact that Mila isn't human, but I never felt like I got to understand her or some of the other characters.  But I have to say that Debra Driza did a great job at creating the villains.  They were so creepy and scary people that I would not want to find myself alone with them...ever.  

While part of Mila's story came to a close, there was a lot left open which I think will lead nicely into the next book in the series.  

Blog Tour: The Devil's Triangle by Toni De Palma

Title: The Devil's Triangle (The Devil's Triangle, #1)
Author: Toni De Palma
Published by: Crescent Moon Press
Pages: 218
Source: Author
Format: ebook
Rating: 2.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: When 17 year old Cooper dies in an attempt to burn down his school, he finds himself in the afterlife. Lucy, the Devil's sister who has crossed party lines, decides to give Cooper another shot at heaven. The deal? Cooper returns to Earth and has to find a girl named Grace. The rest is up to him.

While Cooper figures out his mission, he's thrown into the life he's always wanted. Great parents, a spot on the Varsity football team and a real future are all within reach. But what he really wants is Grace, a feisty girl with an abusive boyfriend who can pound Cooper into pulp if he doesn't watch out.

While Lucy plays demonic-puppeteer, clues to an unknown past between Cooper and Grace start to unravel. Cooper discovers that what's keeping him and Grace apart is far more sinister than anything this bad boy could have ever imagined.

An original story about what's in store for you when you deal with the devil, or his sister for that matter.

I have read stories about angels and demons, but I'm not sure if I've ever read one that dealt with the devil.  I liked that this story was a bit different than what seems to be mainstream YA right now.  It was unique and the idea of getting a second chance was hopeful, and yet Toni De Palma didn't make Cooper's journey a ride in that park.  He had to go through many obstacles and while at times I thought maybe his mission was hopeless, there seemed to be some subtle divine intervention at the perfect moments.

The characters in this story were a bit hard for me to like.  First, a lot of the characters were quite evil and vindictive.  This always rubs me the wrong way when someone gets controlling and hurtful.  Toni De Palma did a great job at making me dislike these bullies and even at times fear them...we are talking about the devil and his minions so some fear is to be expected.  However, I didn't feel like we knew enough about the 'good' characters to like them.  Cooper and Grace are the main characters and yet we see little into Grace's life, and Cooper's life is kind of jumbled so that makes it a bit hard to connect to him.  My favorite character ended up being Cooper's brother Ryan.  He seems like a genuinely great guy who has had a horrible hand dealt to him, yet he seems to take it all in stride.  I wish we got to see more of him.

With Cooper's life being as convoluted as it was, I had a hard time following what was going on.  I wish I would have gotten a little more back story to understand Cooper and Grace's past and the events that led them up to today.  The missing information made it hard for me to read The Devil's Triangle at times, because I wasn't sure what was going on.  Eventually most of it plays out by the end of the novel, but I'm still a little confused about a couple of things.  Maybe they will be explained more in the next novel.

I really enjoyed the unique plot of The Devil's Triangle, but with the hard time I had connecting to the characters and following the plot left me wanting more....hopefully the sequel will fill in some blanks for me. 
   

Review of The Culling by Steven dos Santos

Title: The Culling (The Torch Keeper, #1)
Author: Steven dos Santos
Published by: Flux
Pages: 421
Source: Publisher/NetGalley
Format: ebook
Rating: 5 stars

Summary from Goodreads:  Recruitment Day is here...if you fail, a loved one will die...

For Lucian “Lucky” Spark, Recruitment Day means the Establishment, a totalitarian government, will force him to become one of five Recruits competing to join the ruthless Imposer task force. Each Recruit participates in increasingly difficult and violent military training for a chance to advance to the next level. Those who fail must choose an “Incentive”—a family member—to be brutally killed. If Lucky fails, he’ll have to choose death for his only living relative: Cole, his four-year-old brother.

Lucky will do everything he can to keep his brother alive, even if it means sacrificing the lives of other Recruits’ loved ones. What Lucky isn’t prepared for is his undeniable attraction to the handsome, rebellious Digory Tycho. While Lucky and Digory train together, their relationship grows. But daring to care for another Recruit in a world where love is used as the ultimate weapon is extremely dangerous. As Lucky soon learns, the consequences can be deadly...

I am not one for dark, violent, and horrifying tales but The Culling captivated me and turned my world upside down.

I'm having a difficult time putting into words what I feel about The Culling.  I was incredibly horrified and yet I could not take my eyes off the pages.  Think of facing the scenario of not only have to fight for your freedom, but if you lose you have to choose which of your loved ones to kill...it's heartbreaking and so scary.  I didn't really contemplate the situations that these young adults were put into until the day came when they were put through The Trials...I felt so hopeless and broken.  I could not believe the emotions that Steven dos Santos evoked in the reader.  It is really quite amazing that he was able to convey all he did through one novel.

The Recruits were people who were desperate and did barbaric things.  I wanted to hate some of them, but I couldn't because at times I could relate to them and  I have no idea who The Trials would turn me into.  Lucky and Digory were by far my favorite characters, but I came to like most of the Recruits by the end and if I didn't like them I could at least understand them.  Cassius, while I despised him, was the perfect villain   He had a way of complete and utter control over others that made you cringe.  It was worse than someone who used violence, because he really messed with a person's mind and emotions.  It was utterly brilliant, yet horrifying.  

The one thing about this novel that I adored is the incorporation of  homosexuality.  It wasn't obvious at first or even the center of the story.  There was no gay best friend, or homophobic jock.  The world as a whole was pretty messed up in The Culling, but how they viewed homosexuality (essentially homophobia didn't exist) was something I can only hope our world will someday achieve.  The romance was completely natural and something that I think everyone will enjoy and root for.

Overall I was amazed by this novel.  I don't only suggest you read this, but do it now.  I only wish I could go out and buy everyone copies...it's that good!    

Review of The Office of Mercy by Ariel Djanikian

Title: The Office of Mercy
Author: Ariel Djanikian
Published by: Viking Adult
Pages: 320
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 4 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Weaving philosophy and science together into a riveting, dystopian story of love and adventure, The Office of Mercy illuminates an all-too-real future imagined by a phenomenal new voice in fiction.

Twenty-four-year-old Natasha Wiley lives in America-Five—a high-tech, underground, utopian settlement where hunger and money do not exist, everyone has a job, and all basic needs are met. But when her mentor and colleague, Jeffrey, selects her to join a special team to venture Outside for the first time, Natasha’s allegiances to home, society, and above all to Jeffrey are tested. She is forced to make a choice that may put the people she loves most in grave danger and change the world as she knows it.

Haunting, spellbinding and thought-inducing.

The Office of Mercy is the type of book where just when you think you know which side you stand on everything shifts and your left wondering whose opinions are the right ones.  While this dystopian novel mirrored many young adult novels, there was an added elements that made it stand on it's own.  It was the first adult dystopian novel I read so some of the situations were a bit more mature, but I think it would be a novel that any adult or teen would enjoy. 

Natasha was  refreshing character.  She was a bit feisty and didn't go along with the stream of followers.  She knew what she seeing and feeling was not right and instead of continuing the blind trust, she took matters into her own hands to right some of the wrongs of her society.  Besides Natasha, we don't really get to know too many characters.  This made me feel a bit disconnected and since we were following the story through Natasha's eyes, I felt her loneliness and understood how hard it was for her to not conform. 

The best thing about this book is the complicated feelings it induced.  I thought I was on one side of the battle the entire time, until all of sudden things exploded and then I didn't know what to think.  What I thought was originally morally wrong, I had to go back and examine to determine if what the people did was the right thing to continue the human race and make a better future.  As always this novel shows that ethically many decisions are not always black and white, and while you may not agree with every issue sometimes you just have to pick a side. 

A great debut by Ariel Djanikian, The Office of Mercy is sure to bridge the gap into adult dystopian novels.   

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for chance to win an Admission Prize Pack.

Review of Hooked by Liz Fichera

Title: Hooked (Hooked, #1)
Author: Liz Fichera
Published by: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 368
Source: Publisher/NetGalley
Format: ebook
Rating: 3 stars

Summary from Goodreads:  Get Hooked on a Girl Named Fred...

HE said: Fred Oday is a girl? Puh-leeze. Why is a girl taking my best friend’s spot on the boys’ varsity golf team?

SHE said: Can I seriously do this? Can I join the boys’ team? Everyone will hate me—especially Ryan Berenger.

HE said: Coach expects me to partner with Fred on the green? That is crazy bad. Fred’s got to go—especially now that I can’t get her out of my head. So not happening.

SHE said: Ryan can be nice, when he’s not being a jerk. Like the time he carried my golf bag. But the girl from the rez and the spoiled rich boy from the suburbs? So not happening.

But there’s no denying that things are happening as the girl with the killer swing takes on the boy with the killer smile....

Liz Fichera doesn't hold anything back in her debut novel Hooked.  While the story focuses on Fred, the first girl on the guys varsity team, there are many underlying issues at work.  Some of them include: racism, alcohol abuse, stereotyping, physical abuse, infidelity, gender inequality and socio-economic status.  This may seem like a lot to handle, but it was presented really well in the story. 

Fred, a Native American girl golfer, joins the varsity team only to cause an uproar.  The guys are not only upset that there is a girl on their team, but that she is better than all of them.  While I wasn't a fan of a lot of the characters I thought most were true to what you'd expect.  I'm not saying I agree with many of their actions, but I felt like Liz Fichera portrayed each character in a manner that suited them and their behaviors.  While we really got to know both Fred and Ryan and their home lives, we only got glimpses of the other's lives.  These supporting characters felt a little flat to me since I didn't know much about them.  Fred on the other hand, I did like but at times I thought she was a bit naive.  She was a tough girl, who has led a rough live and so that aspect of her character didn't fit for me.

The story started off really well, as I love the thought of gender - equality, and if I'm being completely truthful the thought of not only a women, but a minority women showing up all these rich snobby white boys had me cheering Fred on and hoping she would succeed.  Soon though, things started to get twisted up and I felt like there were too many communication errors and other situations that it felt jumbled and like we were hoping from one scenario to the next.  It just happened to be too much drama for me.

While this book wasn't a hole-in-one (sorry I couldn't help it), I still enjoyed it and will most likely read the next book in the series. 

Audio Review of Crash by Lisa McMann

Title: Crash (Visions, #1)
Author: Lisa McMann
Narrator: Allyson Ryan
Published by: Simon & Schuster Audio
Length: 5 hours; 19 mins
Source: Simon & Schuster Audio
Format: Audio
Rating: 4 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Jules lives with her family above their restaurant, which means she smells like pizza most of the time and drives their double-meatball-shaped food truck to school. It’s not a recipe for popularity, but she can handle that.  What she can’t handle is the recurring vision that haunts her. Over and over, Jules sees a careening truck hit a building and explode...and nine body bags in the snow.  The vision is everywhere—on billboards, television screens, windows—and she’s the only one who sees it. And the more she sees it, the more she sees. The vision is giving her clues, and soon Jules knows what she has to do. Because now she can see the face in one of the body bags, and it’s someone she knows. Someone she has been in love with for as long as she can remember.

A modern day Romeo and Juliet with a twist. 

What a heartbreaking thought to not only see a horrifying vision all the time that only you can see, but to see the face of the one boy you love in one of the body bags.  Jules does not have an easy life.  It is a little twisted with her dad a compulsive hoarder, working nights at her family's Italian restaurant, the boy she loves completely ignores her while their families feud, seeing visions of a scary crash...and oh yea, driving the restaruant's food truck to high school with two big meatballs on the roof.  (Ok, that last part had me laughing out loud everytime I heard about it).

Jules is a great character.  She keeps seeing this vision in everything and as much as it freaks her out, once she sees Sawyer's face in one of the body bags she knows she has to do something about it.  She's not one of those tough, instant hero types.  She's a normal girl and she is scared out of her mind, but she can't just stand back and do nothing.  I really admired this about her and I think that her being scared and freaking out made her more real to me.  Plus, she has an awesome relationship with her siblings which I love.  Trey sounds like a great big brother and I love that as crazy as he thinks his sister is at times, he's always there for her. 

Allyson Ryan did an amazing job with the audio.  Her voice, along with the story, put me in a trance where I didn't want to stop listening.  I needed to know what was going to happen next and some of the little mysteries that surrounded the characters.  Lisa McMann did an amazing job at hiding all these intricacies in the novel that you don't even really notice until it all comes together in the end. 

This is one series that you don't want to miss out on.  Plus, isn't the cover for Crash interesting and attention grabbing?  At first it freaked me out a bit, but now I'm digging it.  What do you think of the cover?
 

Review of Pivot Point by Kasie West

Title: Pivot Point (Pivot Point, #1)
Author: Kasie West
Published by: HarperTeen
Pages: 352
Source: Publisher/Edelweiss
Format: ARC ebook
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads:  Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

Addison is one of those special girls in her paranormal society that can search into her future when given a choice and see both outcomes played out.  She's not a very popular girl, but soon gains the notice of the star quarterback around the same time she learns that her parents are splitting up.  Now she is left with a big choice--stay with her mom and keep living in the paranormal compound surrounded by her friends and this new crush, or move with her dad to live among the norms always hiding who she really is.  Of course, left with such a big decision she uses her power to search both futures. 

Pivot Point started off a little slow, but right around the middle of the novel I realized I was hooked as we explored both directions of her choice.  What a choice to have to make when you can see both the good and the bad of what each future holds.  I loved that this wasn't an easy choice for Addison and with both choices she will have to make huge sacrifices.  Kasie West didn't gloss anything over and made the readers realize how complicated each choice we make can sometimes be.  Unfortunately,  and unlike Addison, we cannot see the outcomes of our choices, but it's interesting to think about how things may change depending on what we choose.

The characters in this novel, both the paranormal and the norms, come to life.  They are very real with their issues and interactions, though I found them to be a little predictable.  You could easily guess their roles in Addison's life and how they may influence which future she will chose.  I did like the characters, but a lot of this story was based off the interactions between the characters so I wish they would have had a little more deapth. 

By the end of the book I was a bit heart-broken for Addison.  I couldn't quite believe Pivot Point ended like it did, so I'm happy to hear that this will be a series.  I look forward to seeing how Addison will go on with the future she chose and if there is any possibility of a cross over from the other future. 

DAC Blog Tour: Review of The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

Title: The Madman's Daughter (The Madman's Daughter, #1)
Author: Megan Shepherd
Published by: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 432
Source: Debut Author Challenge ARC Tours
Format: Paperback ARC
Rating: 5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Scandalously, thrilling and a bit disturbing; The Madman's Daughter is a book like no other. 

Megan Shepherd introduces us to Juliet whose family fell from society with the accusations about her father's inhumane experiments that forced him to flee London causing rumors of his death.  By a chance encounter she learns that her father is still alive and has the opportunity to go live with him on a remote island and determined for herself if those accusations where true. 

This story was so good.  There are so many little mysteries and surprises that totally catch you off guard...well at least I didn't see them coming.  Initially I was caught up in the scandal but as soon as I met Dr. Moreau, like Juliet, I was a bit repulsed and yet completely intrigued.  As grossed out as you may get at times, the story still pulls you in and makes you want more.  Even though this was a longer novel I flew through it.  I tried to slow down and savor it, but I ended up not having the will-power. 

Not only does the story completely engross you, but the characters are just as fascinating.  Juliet is a forward thinking young lady who has learned medicine, but her father's experiments may be too much or reveal too much about the sickness that may run in the family.  While Juliet may think she is mad, I think she was just ahead of her time.  She was independent and wasn't the docile girl that she was supposed to be.  The relationships she forms with both Montgomery and Edward keep the novel from getting too disturbing and heinous.  The romance is interesting, but there is so much underlying baggage that goes with the characters that you never quite know what to think.

The best thing about this novel was the questions it made arise.  I won't go into the complicated web of theories and moral issues that are floating around in my head, but let me warn you that this novel will stay with you long after you've devoured it. 

 

P.S. Don't Forget to enter my giveaway for Notes from Ghost Town by Kate Ellison. There is a giveaway for both US and International readers!

Review of Notes from Ghost Town by Kate Ellison + Giveaway!

Title: Notes from Ghost Town
Author: Kate Ellison
Published by: Egmont USA
Pages: 336
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback ARC
Available: February 12, 2013
Rating: 4 stars

Summary from Goodreads: When sixteen-year-old artist Olivia Tithe is visited by the ghost of her first love, Lucas Stern, it’s only through scattered images and notes left behind that she can unravel the mystery of his death. There’s a catch: Olivia has gone colorblind, and there’s a good chance she’s losing her mind completely—just like her mother did. How else to explain seeing (and falling in love all over again with) someone who isn’t really there? With the murder trial looming just nine days away, Olivia must follow her heart to the truth, no matter how painful. It’s the only way she can save herself.

A hauntingly beautiful tale.  Notes from Ghost Town is the type of story that will instantly draw the reader in with its mystery and keep you around because of the intriguing characters.

Olivia has lost it all when her mother went to jail for the murder of Lucus Stern, Olivia's best friend and secret love interest.  Not only does she get kicked out of her fancy art school, but she starts seeing Stern's ghost and gets the sneaking suspicion that not was all right with the murder investigation.  This poor girl has been through so much and yet as much as she wants to give up, she doesn't.  While I didn't connect with Olivia, I did respect her despite some bad decisions she made.  I'm sure if I was in her situation I would have rebelled far worse than her. 

Throughout the mystery of Stern's ghost and what really happened that night he lost his life, Olivia is determined to find out the truth, even if it does mean she's crazy.  She finds an unlikely ally in Austin, the boy she thought she hated.  I felt things with Olivia and Alex were a little rushed.  First Olivia hates him, then he's obsessed with her, then they are sort of friends.  It was all just a bit confusing and their relationship felt forced for the plot of the story. 

The mystery itself was intriguing with a couple of plot twists, but at the same time it was easy enough to have a pretty good guess as to who did it, but not why.  That was the part that exploded at the end.  Kate Ellison's writing kept the mystery alive and though the material was dark she didn't make it depressing.  She had a great balance between making us wonder about the murder or if Olivia was slowly losing it plus adding in some humor as well. 

Notes from Ghost Town had the perfect mix of murder mystery and a touch of possible paranormal that has you guessing what was real. 

Intrigued?  Here is your chance to read Notes from Ghost Town for yourself.

Want a chance to read Notes from Ghost Town by Kate Ellison ? Enter the rafflecopter below for a chance to win not only a hardcover copy of Notes from Ghost Town, but also the new paperback release of The Butterfly Clues provided by the wonderful people at Egmont USA. 

That means you could win two books by Kate Ellison!

Plus some more great news...Egmont USA accidentally sent me an extra ARC of Notes from Ghost Town so I thought I'd give my international readers a chance to win as well!

Giveaway rules:
You need to be at least 13 years old to enter
The giveaway for Notes from Ghost Town and The Butterfly Clues is open to US and Canada readers
The giveaway for an ARC of Notes from Ghost Town is open to International readers
The winner will have 3 days to respond before a new winner is chosen
I am not responsible for any lost or damaged items.

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Review of Entangled by Nikki Jefford

Title: Entangled (Spellbound, #1)
Author: Nikki Jefford
Pages: 142
Source: NetGalley
Format: ebook
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Two months after dying, seventeen-year-old witch Graylee Perez wakes up in her twin sister Charlene’s body.

Until Gray finds a way back inside her own body, she’s stuck being Charlene every twenty-hour hours. Her sister has left precise instructions on how Gray should dress and behave. Looking like a prep isn’t half as bad as hanging out with Charlene’s snotty friends and gropey boyfriend.

The “normals” of McKinley High might be quick to write her behavior off as post-traumatic stress, but warlock Raj McKenna is the only person who suspects Gray has returned from the dead.

Now Gray has to solve the mystery of her death and resurrection and disentangle herself from Charlene’s body before she disappears for good.

Move over Halliwell witches because a new set of magical sisters are in town.

Nikki Jeffords takes us on an adventure of jealousy, revenge and at time downright pettiness.  Entangled involved a set of witches who happen to be twin sisters.  The dynamic between the sisters in this novel is delicious; Graylee is the well-behaved, respectful daughter, while Charlene is a bit of the wild child with a side of evil.  While I can't understand Charlene's behavior or motives in Entangled I still enjoyed the dramatized sibling rivalry.  It kept the story shocking and at times irresistible. 

I really enjoyed flow the of this story.  It was lively and entertaining.  Something new was always happening or a new secret was waiting to be unveiled.  However, at times I felt that the conflicts were a bit rushed.  I wanted to savor certain scenes and was sad to see them pass by so quickly.  They story was a rather short one so I think adding more detail and flushing out each scene would have given Entangled that extra push towards greatness.

Besides the rushed scenes, I was also a bit confused by the relationship between Graylee and Raj.  He seemed in love with her from the start, but at the same time it was obvious they didn't really interact or like each other.  I felt there was a bit of insta-love (which I am not a fan of), but also this underlying reason for Raj's infatuation that we never told about.  I think they may tie into the fact that we don't know much about the characters besides their current situations and how each person is determined to get what they want. 

As a whole though I really enjoyed Entangled and I can't wait to see what happens to the Perez sisters next. 

Audio Review of Collateral by Ellen Hopkins

Title: Collateral
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Narrator: Rebekkah Ross
Published by: Simon & Schuster Audio
Length: 8hrs, 38mins
Source: Publisher
Format: Audio
Rating: 4 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Collateral centers on Ashley, an MFA student at San Diego State University. She grew up reading books and never dreamed she would become a military wife. One night she meets a handsome soldier named Cole. He doesn’t match the stereotype of the aggressive military man. He’s passionate and romantic. He even writes poetry. Their relationship evolves into a sexually charged love affair that goes on for five years and survives four deployments. Cole wants Ashley to marry him, but when she meets another man, a professor with similar pursuits and values, she begins to see what life might be like outside the shadow of war. 

I commend military wives.  Of those in my family or ones I know, I don't think I tell them this enough.  I've always admired their strength, but seeing their lives up-close it has also taught me that you don't always choose who you love.  I've told myself time and time again that I could never be a military wife, but I'm sure some of those wives said the same thing...at least that is what Ashley always thought until she met Cole. 

Ashley and Cole are very dynamic characters.  In Collateral you follow bits and pieces of their lives over five years and four deployments.  As mush as anyone grows and changes in five years, Ashley and Cole are not the same people; time has changed them, war has changed them.  At times I loved both of these characters and at times I couldn't stand either of them.  First I really liked Cole.  He was sweet, sensitive and swept Ashley off her feet.  Who would not fall for a rugged marine who writes poetry...and good poetry at that?  But alas as I mentioned before, he changes.  This was quite an unexpected surprise for me...and not a good one. 

The story is told switching between present day and flash backs of Ashley and Cole's relationship.  Since I listened to the audio this tripped me up a couple of times, but I soon got used it and went with the flow.  It was interesting to see where their relationship started started and where they are now, but not necessarily in that order.  This style of switching between present and past helped explain more about their relationship than I think I would have gotten if it was told chronologically.   

As for the audio part of this book, Rebekkah Ross is becoming one of my favorite narrators.  She brought the characters to life for me and gave me sympathy for them at times when I didn't think I had any left.  The main plot of Collateral is examining Ashley and Cole's relationship; it's success and struggles.  I think that by listening to the audio I was kept more engaged than I would have been by reading the book.  Hearing Ashley's story made it more personal by connecting a voice to the words and therefore made me more invested.    

Collateral is a very captivating read, but one that deals with some serious issues.  At times it was very difficult to read, but definitely worth it. 

Review of Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes & Giveaway!

Title: Nobody
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Published by: Egmont USA
Pages: 393
Source: Publisher
Format: ARC
Available: January 22nd 2013
Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads:  There are people in this world who are Nobody. No one sees them. No one notices them. They live their lives under the radar, forgotten as soon as you turn away.

That’s why they make the perfect assassins.

The Institute finds these people when they’re young and takes them away for training. But an untrained Nobody is a threat to their organization. And threats must be eliminated.

Sixteen-year-old Claire has been invisible her whole life, missed by the Institute’s monitoring. But now they’ve ID’ed her and send seventeen-year-old Nix to remove her. Yet the moment he lays eyes on her, he can’t make the hit. It’s as if Claire and Nix are the only people in the world for each other. And they are—because no one else ever notices them.

Alluring and enticing.  These are two of the first words that come to mind after I finished reading Nobody.  While the book may have started off a bit slow by the end I was tearing through the pages waiting to see what would happen next. 

The whole idea behind Nobodies are intriguing and a bit heartbreaking.  Can you imagine going through life without the attention of another person, to be completely unnoticed and immediately forgotten?  What a lonely and desolate life.  I'm not really sure how Claire made it on her own until she met Nix.  Throughout the novel these two characters come into their own.  They have a dangerous mission to carry out not only to make their lives better, but also others.  I thought that probably took more strength than anything.  They risked their lives to save others, even though nobody even notices them.   

While the characters were interesting, the main focus of the story was the plot.  The Society wants to control everything and one thing they can't control are Nobodies.  The people in charge want Nobodies eliminated and as soon as Nix and Claire figure this out they know they have to take down The Society.  There were little burst of action throughout the story, all leading up to the battle at the end.  Was this battle epic?  No, but it was nail biting with a couple of twists to keep you glued to the pages.   

Want a chance to read Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes?  Enter the rafflecopter below for a chance to win not only a win one hardcover copy of Nobody, but also the new paperback release of Every Other Day provided by the wonderful people at Egmont USA. 

That means you could win two books by Jennifer Lynn Barnes!

Giveaway rules:
You need to be at least 13 years old to enter
The Giveaway is open to US and Canada readers
The winner will have 3 days to respond before a new winner is chosen
I am not responsible for any lost or damaged items.
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Review of The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten, #1)
Author: Julie Kagawa
Published by: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 400
Source: NetGalley/Publisher
Format: ARC ebook
Rating: 4 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’d dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

Low and behold, just when I thought The Iron Fey series had come to its end, Julie Kagawa surprises us with a spinoff series. While I didn't love The Iron Fey series, I did enjoy it and Julie Kagawa writes the most amazing world in the Nevernever that I've come across in a while. So did The Lost Prince live up to its predecessors?

I think it surpassed it, and mostly due to Ethan. What is not to love about this brooding, bad boy with a chip on his shoulder? Having been traumatized by the Fey kidnapping him when he was a young boy, stealing his sister away and finally them continuously haunting him, he's had enough and is finally going to do something about it. While Ethan comes across as the bad boy, he can't help but stand up not only for others, but also for what is right. He is truly a good soul who's had to harden his exterior to get by. So when Kenzie gets threated by the Fey he knows he has to protect her.

Kenzie is the type of character that grows on you. At first she is just there, but soon her strength and determination steal their way into your mind and water that seed that has been planted. While I figured out her secret way before it was revealed I still wish we could have seen into her life and personality a bit more. Hopefully she will be more of a focus in the next book.

While the characters were enjoyable, the world and creativity that Julie Kagawa paints is beyond compare. She's taken a small piece of The Iron Fey series and built not only a captivating story-line, but also one that is quite complex and gets you questioning what you believe. The depth and emotion she puts into this story seeps through the pages and into your mind.

If you enjoyed The Iron Fey series, or even if you didn't, I suggest you try The Lost Prince. Ethan and his gang of misfits just may be the spark you needed.

Audio Review of Rebel Heart (Dust Lands, #2) by Moira Young

Title: Rebel Heart (Dust Lands, #2)
Author: Moira Young
Narrator: Heather Lind
Published by: Simon & Schuster Audio     
Length: 11 hours and 22 mins
Source: Simon & Schuster Audio
Format: Audio
Rating: 4 stars

Summary from Goodreads:  It seemed so simple: Defeat the Tonton, rescue her kidnapped brother, Lugh, and then order would be restored to Saba’s world. Simplicity, however, has proved to be elusive. Now, Saba and her family travel west, headed for a better life and a longed-for reunion with Jack. But the fight for Lugh’s freedom has unleashed a new power in the dust lands, and a formidable new enemy is on the rise.

Moira Young takes you on a wild ride with Rebel Heart.  Packed with action, deceit, and a bit of romance, it's the prefect recipe for a bestseller. 

Saba is a complicated lady.  Sure when the 'red hot' gets a rollin', she's undefeatable (I know this is not an official word but I think it describes Saba best) and a force to be reckoned with, but lately she seems to be losing a bit of herself.  Her past haunts her and her future seems bleak.  It doesn't help that Lugh is always on her case.  Seriously what is with him?  I haven't met a character I have disliked as much as I dislike him.  I think he's rude, degrading, and doesn't deserve the respect  he seems to be commanding from everyone around him.  Besides Lugh, all the rest of the characters come to life in Rebel Heart.  It shows a more vulnerable side to each of them and instead of always being the fierce fighters, we get to see their flaws making them that much more real.

What a twisted adventure Rebel Heart turned out to be.  You'll be guessing at every turn what is going to happen next, while constantly questioning who are the 'good guys' and who are the 'bad ones.'  While the story started out a little slow, it gradually built steam and became impossible to put down.  I just had to figure out not only people's actions but the motives behind these actions as well. 

Heather Lind was a wonderful narrator and I think listening to this novel would be so much easier than reading it because of all the dialect.  Moira Young writes phonetically as these characters would talk so I know that is hard for some people to read (me included).  Don't miss this wonderful series because of that though, just listen to the audio.  You will be amazed at how good it is as well as be highly entertained. 

Review of Fairy Tales from the Brother Grimm by Philip Pullman & GIVEAWAY!

Title: Fairy Tales from The Brothers Grimm
Author: Philip Pullman
Published by: Viking Adult
Pages: 400
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 4 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Two hundred years ago, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm published the first volume of Children’s and Household Tales. Now, at a veritable fairy-tale moment—witness the popular television shows Grimm and Once Upon a Time and this year’s two movie adaptations of “Snow White”—Philip Pullman, one of the most popular authors of our time, makes us fall in love all over again with the immortal tales of the Brothers Grimm.

From much-loved stories like “Cinderella” and “Rumpelstiltskin,” “Rapunzel” and “Hansel and Gretel” to lesser-known treasures like “Briar-Rose,” “Thousandfurs,” and “The Girl with No Hands,” Pullman retells his fifty favorites, paying homage to the tales that inspired his unique creative vision—and that continue to cast their spell on the Western imagination.

Fairy tales remind me of that game telephone.  The one where a person starts off saying something and as that phrase gets passed from person to person it changes until when the final person says it out loud it is nothing like the original.  I feel that this happens quite often with fairy tales.  There are so many variations for each tale with every author or storyteller throwing in their own twist. 

Philip Pullman takes a slightly different approach.  He has researched many of these tales from different sources and their origins.  Then he retells them only changing small parts that he feels makes the story flow better.  The one thing that is really interesting about this rendition is at the end of every tale there is information not only about the original source and other versions of the story, but Pullman himself adds notes after each tale about changes in the variations or other significant information.  I think this added to the volume immensely.  It gave me a different view on many of these tales and had me thinking past the story into it's elements.  It was very entertaining and informational so note only did I enjoy the story I also felt like I was learning something. 

Fairy tales themselves are far from unique, but at the same time there is something satisfying about reading a different version of them.  I loved seeing how the tales I've grown up with (and had a great bias to thanks to Disney) have changed and transformed into a completely new tale with common features but enough differences to entice the readers.  There were also many tales I had not heard before that were present in this volume giving a fresh perspective every now and again. 

Fairy Tales from The Brothers Grimm was a very enjoyable read and one I see myself going back to often; not necessarily as a whole, but to pick and choose which stories I want to relive depending on my mood. 

Now on to the good stuff...THE GIVEAWAY.  The wonderful people at Viking/Penguin have generously donated a book to giveaway to one of you lovely people.  Trust me...this is a book you want in your collection. 

How do you win?

You must be 13 years of age or older to enter

This contest is open to participants both from the US and Internationally

Once the email is sent to the winner they will have three days to respond or a new winner will be chosen

 

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Audio Review of The Doula by Bridget Boland

Title: The Doula
Author: Bridget Boland
Narrator: Madeleine Maby
Published by: Simon & Schuster Audio
Length: 10hrs 35min
Source: Publisher
Format: Audio
Rating: 4 stars

Summary from Goodreads: Raised in a funeral home, Caroline Connors saw her mother miscarry when she was just a young girl and realized that she had a calling. Unlike her family, who guide souls on their way out, Caro chose to bring them in. As a doula, Caro spent years providing comfort and emotional support to women in labor, but when her best friend, Mary Grace, experiences complications, she makes a quick decision, taking the baby’s life into her hands as her lifelong friend passes away. Now, charged with medical malpractice by Mary Grace’s husband, Caro must endure a trial that threatens her professional future, questions her identity as a doula and friend, and forces her to confront a dark past that she’s been hiding from for years.

Raw, soul-seeking and poignant; The Doula will stay with you long after you've set it down.

Caroline's life was finally getting back on track after years of bumps and obstacles when Mary Grace asks her to move to Milwaukee to help with the birth of her child. Caro packs everything and starts her new life over.  While I has some trouble with certain decisions Caro made, I still think she was a very realistic character.  She doesn't live a charmed life and, in fact, had a pretty dramatic and scaring childhood that has affected many of her life choices.  This definitely shaped her life and maybe the flaws make her more beautiful and real. 

I love that the setting takes place in my city.  It made me feel more connected to the story and helped me visualize everything in more detail.  The story itself was filled with hope and pain.  Child birth is a very personal experience and many people have passionate feelings about how they want their children brought into this world.  I loved that Bridget Boland explored them all, from the formal hospital, to a birthing center, to a spiritual/commune-type location.  It was so interesting learning how each doctor/midwife had their own style and feel to them.  It opened my eyes to all the different options pregnant women have depending on their styles and comforts. 

As for the lawsuit against Caro, it brings up emotions and past circumstances that many people don't want to face.  Mary Grace's husband was completely ridiculous.  I didn't like him from the first time he was introduced in the story all the way through the end.  I thought he was a jerk and that Mary Grace deserved someone better than him.  The one thing that bothered me with the trial is that all the blame was all pushed on Mary Grace.  Especially after events that happen later in the story I think the hospital should have been investigated in greater detail in accordance to Mary Grace's death and her daughter's birthing complications.  I thought something was definately suspect with the hospital and yet it seemed nothing fell on the doctors or nurses. 

While listening to the audio I immediately recognized the narrator's voice.  I had just finished another book that she narrates where she is a teenager, so it took me a couple of chapters to fit her voice into this new role.  But after that was figured out, the narration was wonderful.  I felt she really captured who Caro was and her struggling emotions through the entire ordeal. 

The Doula is a novel that unexpectedly touched me and I think it will be one that I re-read often in future years. 

Review of Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

Title: Unspoken
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Published by: Random House Books for Young Readers
Pages: 384
Source: Publisher and NetGalley
Format: ebook ARC
Rating: 4.5 stars

Summary from Goodreads:  Kami Glass is in love with someone she's never met—a boy she's talked to in her head since she was born. This has made her an outsider in the sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale, but she has learned ways to turn that to her advantage. Her life seems to be in order, until disturbing events begin to occur. There has been screaming in the woods and the manor overlooking the town has lit up for the first time in 10 years. . . . The Lynburn family, who ruled the town a generation ago and who all left without warning, have returned. Now Kami can see that the town she has known and loved all her life is hiding a multitude of secrets—and a murderer. The key to it all just might be the boy in her head. The boy she thought was imaginary is real, and definitely and deliciously dangerous.

Unspoken was a delightful read that was nail-biting and surprising funny.  I had no idea what to expect when I started reading this novel, but the story soon captured by attention and had me laughing out loud. 

When it comes to receiving the scoop on a story, Kami is one determined girl.  She will put herself on the front line and in awkward situations to find the news and answers she wants.  I really enjoyed Kami's character.  She was a bit spunky and crazy at times, but she went for what she wanted, except when it came to her heart.  I think that her and Jared make an interesting pair to be connected telepathically.  He's a bit rough and tumble and she's a sweet but insistent young girl.  They are not sure why they can hear each other's thoughts, but now that they can see each other face to face they are determined to find out. 

I didn't always understand how Jared was feeling about both the telepathy and Kami herself.  I was confused by some of his actions and I wish that I could have saw inside his head a little more. 

There is a large mystery in the novel of both the Lynburn family returning to the quaint English town, Sorry-in-the-Vale, and a murderer killing animals steadily progressing in violence.  Kami and her unique group of friends investigate on their own and often get caught in compromising situations.  Sarah Rees Brennan writes a great mystery.  I did not figure either mystery out until the very end.  I had no idea who was the murderer or the oddness of the Lynburn's and why the town treated the differently.  I loved that I was constantly caught by surprise while reading this story and seriously had no clue about either mystery.

With it's charming cast of characters, laugh-out-loud moments, and a gripping mystery Unspoken is a novel you'll quickly want to get your hands on.