My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Suspicion had the premise to be an excellent book.
However, I believe the layout and details put into the beginning chapters was done all wrong.
Too much time was spent leading up to Imogen’s move to Rockford Manor. Once there Imogen’s story moved much faster, maybe even too fast.
Overall, the concept and the characters were great. Unfortunately I did not love it all that much.
The Bridge from Me to You by Lisa Schroeder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a super cute book about two teens struggling through some tough times.
It’s difficult to review this without getting into the details. Let’s just say that if you enjoy sports references as well as strong willed girl characters you’ll probably like this book.
I especially love the title. I can’t help but swoon when the title plays such a heavy relevance to the story.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a great book.
This book tackles a tough issue: rape.
What I like most about this book is the attitude Grace has.
I love that she never gives up.
I love that even though everyone doubts her story she keeps to her guns.
I love Ian’s character.
I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a compelling contemporary novel.
The Here and Now by Ann Brashares
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A welcome surprise from an old favorite series author of mine.
Loved the sci-fi and mystery elements.
Prenna was a good character but Ethan steals the show.
Time travel is an unusual theme for me to grasp. I almost always have a dread feeling when I start a book knowing it’s about time travel. I have a preconceived notion that it is unrealistic. This book, however, was wonderful and easy to believe.
I am not a fan of the ending though. It did not end very well summed up. I wanted a bit more closure to Prenna and Ethan’s relationship as well as the traveler community. I can only assume this will be a series and the remaining information will come in a later installment.
The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Pretty good.
Liked the dual character narration.
The world-building was nice.
The ending was not so awesome.
Cliffhangers are not my favorite and this one was not done very well.
I will probably read the next book though.
Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved this book. I simply couldn’t put it down.
The characters were awesome. I LOVED Harvey. Alice was not the most likable character at times but I saw through the nasty person she tended to be to a few select characters. Did those characters deserve it? Maybe, but should Alice have been using her precious time on revenge? Maybe not so completely.
I loved and hated the layout of the story. Chapters from both Alice and Harvey’s points of view from both “Now” and “Then”. The “Then” chapters being flash backs of before “Now”, which was current time. I found some of the “Then” chapters imposing because I REALLY wanted to know what was going to happen in the “Now”. The “Then” chapters were very important though.
I see this being a standalone. However, I would not be opposed to reading more about Alice’s life.
17 First Kisses by Rachael Allen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book.
The layout was very original. Just like the title suggests we get to experience Claire’s firsts 17 kisses. The timeline switches between present time and her kisses, in order from 1 to 17.
The characters were pretty great. Claire is part of a group of girls, most of them cheerleaders and Claire is a sporty soccer player with more muscles than curves.
I liked Claire a lot. I can’t say the same about her girlfriends. Then again most teenaged females that think they are hot stuff aren’t the nicest people to be friends with.
Sam and Luke and the many other male characters are also great. I really enjoy Sam and wish we could have seen more of him. I had Luke pegged from the beginning and I wish I didn’t. I really wanted him to be as awesome as he was portrayed.
Claire and her family go through some pretty terrible events. The major event is so terrible that I really had a hard time reading about it. As a mother, I simply can not even think about how I might react to the event that happened. If you are not a mother or don’t have younger siblings or close family then the event may not affect you as much.
As for the ending, it was a little too vague and uneventful. I either wish it would have been a longer book to give the ending more detail or the ending should have happened a bit sooner because we are lead up to the end with a lot of events unfolding. The end should have been given a bit more satisfying detail. The only thing I can hope for is a follow-up book that comes back to Claire after she graduates college or maybe there will be a mid-book that covers her years of college. I really didn’t enjoy seeing her lust for some random dude as soon as she moved into her dorm room and then BOOM, THE END.
Should there be more books I will definitely read it as well as anything else by Rachel Allen.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Well, first, this cover is gorgeous!
This book was fantastic.
Loved the epicness of the setting.
The elemental powers of a select few characters was awesome.
Nym was an awesome character. She is strong, yet struggles with self control and acceptance of her ability.
Eogan, Nym’s elemental trainer, was very cool. I enjoyed him a great deal.
I had a hard time picturing him. He’s very dark skinned, yet he had jagged dark bangs as well as bright emerald eyes.
Colin and Breck were outstanding supporting characters.
I ended up loving the warhorses. How cool were they!?
The only other thing I have to mention is: THE ENDING!!!!!!
ZOMG. WHUT!?
How can I possibly read the next book with that ending?
I feel so defeated but I just know Nym will come out on top, right?
The One (The Selection, #3) by Kiera Cass
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
One of my most favorite series to date.
Dystopian elements with a Bachelor reality TV twist.
The final installment was everything I wanted and more and less all wrapped together.
There were a few tragic scenes I didn’t enjoy and would have wished for a different outcome.
Overall, I was pleased with how this series ended.
I don’t feel comfortable going into much more detail but suffice it to say that I look forward to reading more by Kiera Cass.
Burn Out (Burn Out, #1) by Kristi Helvig
EgmontUSA | April 8, 2014 | 272 pages
eARC via NetGalley.
Plot: 5
Setting: 5
Writing: 5
Originality: 5
Characters: 5
Romance: 4
Title/Cover Bonus: 5
Action packed sci-fi futuristic story about a girl and her guns.
Continue reading “Blog Tour | Review and Giveaway | Burn Out (#1) by Kristi Helvig”
