Review ~ World After by Susan Ee

Title: World After

Series: Penryn & the End of Days #2

Author: Susan Ee

Publication Date: Nov. 19, 2013

Genre: YA Dystopian/Sci-Fi/Paranormal

In this sequel to the bestselling fantasy thriller, Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what’s left of the modern world.

When a group of people capture Penryn’s sister Paige, thinking she’s a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels’ secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can’t rejoin the angels, can’t take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

Goodreads * Amazon

My *****5 Star***** Review

World After picks up right where Angelfall left off. You can check out my review of Angelfall HERE.

One thing I didn’t mention in my previous review is the development of minor characters. If you’ve read the first book, then you’re familiar with Dee and Dum. Let’s just say they continue to be entertaining.

I was less than 20% in before I came across my first violent, heart-pounding moment. Susan doesn’t back off in the action department.

Although this book is from Penryn’s point of view, you get a little treat from Pooky Bear in this story. Pooky decides to share Raffe’s point of view from a few incidents that happened during Angelfall. LOVED this! I was begging my kindle screen for more! Oh, and of course, I love the whole Pooky Bear thing in general. Penryn plays dress-up with Pooky, and it’s quite entertaining!

You can still expect to laugh through some scenes, and then be completely disheartened in the next. Oh, and of course I was thoroughly GIDDY at one point. I’m talking VICTORY DANCE!! I absolutely LOVE this story! I am soooo dreading the ending, though! I need a loophole for Penryn & Raffe. I NEED A LOOPHOLE!!! Okay. Rant over….maybe.

5 AMAZEBALLS STARS!!!!! I cannot wait for End of Days!!! Susan, I NEED an HEA here!!!!
*I received a copy via Netgalley and Amazon Children’s Publishing in exchange for an honest review.*

About the Author ~ Susan Ee

Susan Ee has eaten mezze in the old city of Jerusalem, surfed the warm waters of Costa Rica, and played her short film at a major festival. She has a life-long love of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, especially if there’s a touch of romance. She used to be a lawyer but loves being a writer because it allows her imagination to bust out and go feral.

Goodreads * Website * Twitter

Happy Reading,

Alison

Review ~ Angelfall by Susan Ee

Title: Angelfall

Series: Penryn & the End of Days #1

Author: Susan Ee

Publication Date: Aug. 28, 2012

Genre: YA / Sci-Fi/Dystopian / Paranormal

It’s been six weeks since the angels of the apocalypse destroyed the world as we know it. Only pockets of humanity remain.

Savage street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night.

When angels fly away with a helpless girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back…

Goodreads * Amazon

My ****4 Star**** Review

We’ve all seen our share of zombie apocalypse stories over the last few years. Oh, but I haven’t seen or heard of a zombie story that has come close to this angel apocalypse tale.

The first chapter was interesting, but not amazing. BUT, I was quickly hooked and couldn’t put the book down. Towards the end of chapter 3, Susan had me aching for a character that I hadn’t even really been introduced to yet.

Penryn is one tough girl. She reminds me a little of Katniss in the Hunger Games. She’s taking care of her younger handicapped sister and dealing with her schizophrenic mother. She has a great strength of character. Her ability to deal with her mother is beyond me!

Raffie “plays” the tough guy. You get the sense that he’s JUST playing that role, though. Angels aren’t supposed to be with humans, so maybe he’s putting up a front to Penryn. The angels that broke this rule produced the evil nephilim spawn, and Raffie has spent centuries tracking these creatures down.

I love the writing style. Susan strongly appealed to my emotions through the senses. There’s some absolute brilliance displayed in some of her words.

The rosy love I’m supposed to feel for her is slashed with black and splattered with various shades of gray.

You can expect some funny moments. And then some adrenaline pumping moments. And a little bit of mystery. It’ll take a while to figure out who the bad guys are.

It doesn’t end on a cliffhanger but the ending leaves you begging for more. 4 very strong stars! So unique and unpredictable. I’ve already read the second book, World After, and I have to say that this series just keeps getting better! Watch for my 5 star review to come! I absolutely cannot wait for the third book, End of Days, set to be released May 12th.
*I received a copy via Netgalley and Amazon Children’s Publishing in exchange for an honest review.*

About the Author ~ Susan Ee

Susan Ee has eaten mezze in the old city of Jerusalem, surfed the warm waters of Costa Rica, and played her short film at a major festival. She has a life-long love of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, especially if there’s a touch of romance. She used to be a lawyer but loves being a writer because it allows her imagination to bust out and go feral.

Goodreads * Website * Twitter

Happy Reading,

Alison

Review ~ Reluctant Guardian

Title: Reluctant Guardian

Author: Melissa J. Cunningham

Publication Date: September 20, 2013

Genre: YA Paranormal

Guarding Brecken Shaefer-a dark and dangerous rebel-is harder than it looks. Death was nothing like sixteen-year-old Alisa Callahan thought it would be. Resting on pink, fluffy clouds for eternity with her gram and best friend sounded like a dream come true. After all, enduring one torturous experience after another in her short life deserved some kind of reward, right? Unfortunately, eternal rewards aren’t given out so freely when you take your own life. Required to pay the debt for committing suicide, Alisa must become a guardian. It sounds easy enough, but not when the boy she is forced to protect has a dangerous secret and wants absolutely nothing to do with her. Brecken Shaefer isn’t any normal teenager. He has special gifts that are sure to make Alisa’s afterlife miserable. When feelings develop between them, everything spins out of control. Not only must Alisa face her own demons- but to protect Brecken, she must face an evil so heinous that it threatens to destroy their souls completely. Alisa is tired of hiding from her past. When the easiest thing to do is run, can Brecken give her the strength to stay?

Goodreads * Amazon

My ***3.5*** Star Review

High points ~ There’s a lot of mystery to the story. I enjoyed getting both POVs. It’s unpredictable.

Alisa has a lot of growing up to do. She’s weak, a liar, and has zero respect for authority. She doesn’t recognize a good thing when it’s staring her in the face. She’s very immature. This is typical for some teens, but definitely not all. I didn’t feel like I could relate to her. She made decisions that would totally contradict what I would have done.

Brecken is in a situation that leaves him feeling hopeless. He’s very mature, though. I liked him from the start. However, there is a point in the story where he starts acting immature all of a sudden, and it just didn’t fit his character. Alisa is supposed to be his guardian and help him. The good thing is that she’s not just helping him. He’s helping her! In the process of this, they start falling for each other. I found myself questioning this over and over. He’s alive. She’s dead. I’m sure there could be a context in which I would buy this scenario, but I struggled with it in this story. But, I also had an issue with the fact that Brecken loved Alisa when he seemed so obsessed with his girlfriend Jill. He would say he had feelings for Alisa, but his actions pointed towards Jill.

At one point there’s a switch from third person to first person in the middle of a scene. It threw me off for a minute. But, overall I think the idea of the story is great. I think the execution just needed some tweaking. There is a good message in the end to be learned. But, I would have loved to see Alisa grow more in her maturity.

The ending is interesting. You will find closure in one sense and in another, feel like it’s ending on a cliffhanger. Despite the problems with the book, I’d still read a follow up story to Brecken and Alisa.

Warning: There are some dark parts to the story dealing with satanic rituals and sacrifices.

Happy Reading,

Alison

Half-Life Blitz Tour, Review & Giveaway

Title: Half-Life

Author: Tina Ferraro

Publisher: Leap Books

Expected Publication Date: March 24, 2015

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Half a life is not worth living.

Probably not a good idea to take advice from your dead twin sister. High school sophomore Trisha Traynor and friends have played the Halloween mirror game for years, the one that’s supposed to show a glimpse of the guy they’ll marry. But no one’s ever seen anything.

Until tonight—when Trisha is gob smacked by the candlelit arrival of her long-deceased twin sister, instead of her crush, Kirk Maxwell.

In a voice and vision that only Trisha can hear and see, Chessie claims to be back on a compassionate journey. Trisha fears she’s gone nuthouse crazy. But she nonetheless follows the instructions Chessie outlines in their nightly conversations, until she finds herself stepping across some ethical lines, and probably ending all chances with Kirk.

When a sisterly showdown ensues, resulting in the shattering of the mirror, Chessie’s gone again, and a heartsick Trisha sets about righting her recent wrongs. That is, until she stumbles upon the real reason Chessie had come back and the most important glimpse yet that the mirror could never predict.

Goodreads * Amazon * B&N * Leap

“How soon,” Chadwick asked, “is too soon to tell you I love you?”
Every muscle in my body froze. Three days ago we’d hardly known each other. Since then we’d had a few conversations and one kiss. It wasn’t like we’d been struck by some love-at-first-sight thunderbolt from the heavens.
Heavens. Oh, Heaven!
No, Chessie…no. You swore you couldn’t get inside people’s heads, control people’s feelings..

My ****4 Star**** Review

This book starts out with a really interesting opening scene, and kept my attention from that point on. Trisha participates in a little ritual on Halloween that results in a visit from her deceased twin sister, Chessie. Chessie, has a mission, but she’s not really sharing it with Trisha. However, Chessie does share some very specific tasks with Trisha that she must complete.

This story has a very young YA feel to it. Trisha is still quite immature and in need of some growing up. She’s not completely ditzy, though, and when it matters most she makes the right decisions.

Apart from the slight darkness of the séance-style ritual that may bother some parents, this is a clean story with some great messages and life lessons that I think most parents would be glad to have their young teens read. Trisha has to face multiple issues typical teens deal with today, including dating issues, drinking, and wanting to be popular. In the end, she sees clearly what really matters.

I give this 4 sweet and innocent stars, and highly recommend it to fans of the lower YA paranormal romance genre.

About the Author ~ Tina Ferraro

Tina Ferraro been writing since she learned to hold a pencil, and sold upwards of a hundred short stories to national magazines before turning to novels. She is the author of three Random House novels, The ABC’s of Kissing Boys, How to Hook a Hottie and Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress, which have received distinctions such as the ABA Book Sense Award and two RITA nominations.

Her fourth YA, The Starter Boyfriend, has spent time on Amazon’s Top 100 Lists. She lives in Los Angeles with her rocket scientist husband, two cats and whichever of their three young adult children is in town. When not writing, she enjoys playing Facebook Scrabble, swimming, and chasing coyotes out of her neighborhood.

Twitter * Facebook * Website

Others on the Blitz

March 16th

Word to Dreams

A Little Bit of R&R

Twinning for Books

March 17th

Tattered Book Blog

Somewhere Over Yonder

Forever Lost In Other Worlds

March 18th

After the Last Page

Electively Paige

Queekie Girl Reads http://thequeekiegirl.blogspot.sg/

March 19th

Reese’s Reviews

CiCi’s Theories

Girl With Pen

March 20th

Michelle’s Minions

Lindsay and Jane’s Views and Reviews

Good Reads with Ronna

March 23rd

Jessica Bayliss

Ali’s Books

Emma Michaels

Giveaway Time!!!

Prize ~ $10 Amazon GC!

Rafflecopter Giveaway ~ Click HERE to enter!

Happy Reading,

Alison

Review ~ Opposition

Title: Opposition

Series: Lux #5

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Release Date: Aug. 5, 2014

Genre: YA Sci-Fi/Paranormal Romance

Katy knows the world changed the night the Luxen came.

She can’t believe Daemon welcomed his race or stood by as his kind threatened to obliterate every last human and hybrid on Earth. But the lines between good and bad have blurred, and love has become an emotion that could destroy her—could destroy them all.

Daemon will do anything to save those he loves, even if it means betrayal.

They must team with an unlikely enemy if there is any chance of surviving the invasion. But when it quickly becomes impossible to tell friend from foe, and the world is crumbling around them, they may lose everything— even what they cherish most—to ensure the survival of their friends…and mankind.

War has come to Earth. And no matter the outcome, the future will never be the same for those left standing.

Opposition

My *****5 STAR***** Review

Is it okay if I take a moment to mourn before I start this review? Seriously? It’s been 13 days since I’ve finished Opposition, and I am so missing Daemon. I knew this would happen. I’ve been dreading the separation books ago, knowing the end would eventually come.

Aside from Daemon, this book was an exciting read. It’s loaded with action and Kat has grew into this serious kick butt, take no prisoners chick worthy of admiration! Oh, and she still loves her books.

This book doesn’t skimp on the intensity of the previous one, either. I went into full-fledged freak out mode in this one! I almost think I could have gotten away with suing JLA for the heart attack she about gave me!

Seriously, though, I have to give Jennifer some serious love for all the awesome book blogger love happening in this series. I’m a forever fan, for sure! I can’t wait to read more from her! Oh, and if you’ve stumbled onto this review without reading any of the series yet, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING ON!?!?!?!?!

Happy Reading,

Alison

Review ~ Shadows by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Shadows

Series: Lux #0.5

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Release Date: Feb. 21, 2012

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

The last thing Dawson Black expected was Bethany Williams. As a Luxen, an alien life form on Earth, human girls are…well, fun. But since the Luxen have to keep their true identities a secret, falling for one would be insane.

Dangerous. Tempting. Undeniable.

Bethany can’t deny the immediate connection between her and Dawson. And even though boys aren’t a complication she wants, she can’t stay away from him. Still, whenever they lock eyes, she’s drawn in.

Captivated. Lured. Loved.

Dawson is keeping a secret that will change her existence…and put her life in jeopardy. But even he can’t stop risking everything for one human girl. Or from a fate that is as unavoidable as love itself.

Shadows

My ****4 Star**** Review

Not reading this book until way after I was fully in love with Daemon, I didn’t know how I would feel about Dawson. I knew I wanted the story, though. While I didn’t fall for Dawson like I did Daemon, I’m still so glad I took the time to read it.
It’s the type of story that I’m sure would leave any high school girl swooning. There are times that you’ll completely forget that you’re reading about aliens because the scenes are so very real, and so very reminiscent of falling in love for the first time.
I didn’t find myself emotionally invested in Dawson and Bethany’s story like I was with Daemon and Kat, but this book was still filled with some great scenes! I was surprised at the length of it, too. Usually when you get a .5 version of any series, its length is brief. JLA didn’t do that.
I definitely recommend this book to all fans of the Lux series, and if you haven’t already read any of it, WHY NOT?!?

About the Author ~ Jennifer L. Armentrout

# 1 New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer L. Armentrout Lives in West Virginia.

All the rumors you heard about her state aren’t true.

Well, mostly. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time, reading, working out, watching zombie movies, and pretending to write.

She is the author of the Covenant Series (Spencer Hill Press), the Lux Series (Entangled Teen), Don’t Look Back (Disney/Hyperion) and a yet untitled novel (Disney/Hyperion), and new YA paranormal series with Harlequin Teen.

Jennifer also writes New Adult and Adult romance under the pen name J. Lynn. The Gamble Brothers Series (Tempting the Best Man/Tempting the Player) and Wait for You. Under her pen name, she is published with Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Happy Reading,

Alison

Review ~ Cinder by Jessica Sorensen

Title: Cinder

Series: Death Collectors #2

Author: Jessica Sorensen

Release Date: Nov. 18, 2013

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

Until Asher Morgan came along, nineteen-year old Ember’s life had always been about death. Being around Asher, though, and being able to be near him and touch him, changed her and made her feel alive for the very first time. But now he’s gone and she’s left dealing with her seclusion again, the emptiness of not being able to be touched, and the curse of the Grim Angel.

As a battle breaks out between Angels and Reapers, she desperately searches for answers about who she is, where she came from, and what she needs to stop the battle. But things get complicated when Cameron returns to her life and begins messing with her thoughts and emotions.

Ember tries to hold onto her sanity while the line between life and death begins to blur. Lives are threatened and taken. Murder is everywhere. She needs to figure out what’s real, what’s an illusion, and who she really has feelings for before it’s too late.

My ****4 Star**** Review

I have to say that I’m not wholly in love with this series. I personally prefer her Fallen Star series. However, I still want to keep reading and get all the answers. I can’t even figure out who I want Ember to be with now. In the first book I was all about Asher, but now I don’t know. It’s sort of driving me crazy! If you’re into love triangles, then this might be the series for you! Then again, if you haven’t read the first book, then you probably need to stop here and go do that before reading this review. 🙂

I have to confess that some parts of the story came across as a little weird for me and some parts were confusing. I was able to get the overall idea, but sometimes the details were so great, and yet so new with it being a whole world building thing, that I couldn’t keep up.

I think the worst thing for me, though, is not connecting with the characters emotionally like I do in most of Jessica’s other books. So Asher is gone at the end of the first book, and let me just say that that makes the beginning of this book drag. I was at 51 % before I really got into the book. Because of that, I wavered between 3.5 and 4 stars for this book. The beginning half I would have been closer to 3 stars, but then I started getting really interested in where it was going. So, the second half of the book is redeeming. It does end on a cliffie, though, and with a major love triangle going on. I almost think I’m leaning towards the dark side now…Nonetheless, I want to know how it all ends! Spark, the next book, is set to be released on Mar. 31st.

About the Author ~ Jessica Sorensen

Jessica Sorensen is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author from the snowy mountains of Wyoming. When she’s not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.

Happy Reading,

Alison

5 STAR Review ~ Origin (Lux #4) @JLArmentrout

Title: Origin (Lux #4)

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Release Date: Aug. 27,2013

YA/NA Paranormal/Sci-fi/Romance/Urban Fantasy

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on?

And will they even be together?

Origin

My *****5 STAR***** Review

OH. MY. GOSH. I cannot believe she went there, and I NEVER saw it coming! I mean she had me all gushing, I mean I was MELTING!!! and then WHAM! WHAT?!? Yes, she did! And I NEVER saw it coming! How did I NOT see it coming? Looking back I can see a bit of foreshadowing, but I still would have thought that there was NO FREAKIN’ WAY! Now I’m totally freaking out!!

Ok, let me go back to the beginning. If you read Opal then you know how that ended in totally dramatic fashion and made up for any flaws that book may have had. If you didn’t read Opal, then you shouldn’t be reading this unless you’re looking for spoilers of the previous books. My advice – GO READ THE BOOKS!!! Okay, so this book picks right up where Opal left off. It is action-packed from the start. There is NEVER a dull moment in this book. It’s one heart pounding moment after another.

Oh, but then there’s just a small little moment of peace that leaves you melting, melting, melting. No, not like the wicked witch. Trust me, you’ll be perfectly happy staying wrapped up in your ball of mush!

You won’t stay there. Nope. Ms. Armentrout apparently thought that would be BORING! So, insert more drama and some highly upsetting losses. Oh, but if your heart is hurting here, that isn’t even a smidgen of what you’ll feel in the end. Because, in the end you’ll be searching the floor for the scattered pieces of your heart everywhere.

MASTERPIECE. Oh, and I might add here that if I actually had to wait for the release of the next book, I might be ready to kill someone…

Go read the books!! There’s nothing more to say.

Warnings: There’s sex in this book, but it doesn’t head towards erotic. There’s some language, but its use is rare.

Happy Reading,

Alison

Review ~ Never Never

Best friends since they could walk. In love since the age of fourteen. Complete strangers since this morning.
He’ll do anything to remember. She’ll do anything to forget.

Never Never

My *****5 Star***** Review

What the CRAP?!? Colleen and Tarryn are MADDENING eeeevil geniuses. Now we’re all throwing around theories as if this was as important as discovering who assassinated a president. People are spending hours googling up voodoo and New Orleans. I wouldn’t be surprised if some fangirls are planning trips there now in hopes of figuring out this story!!!
Ok, so, if you haven’t read it, then you should know that it’ll leave you screaming! I’m talking MAJOR cliffie, and you’ll be wondering what the heck just happened. How it happened? Why it happened? Who made it happen? Yeah, LOTS and LOTS of questions! You’ll have lots of ideas, but you’ll be praying they’re all wrong!
What’s super amazing about this is that you’re able to follow along and get sucked in! Most thrillers I’ve read that are even remotely similar leave you wondering if the author is making any sense through parts of it. It all makes sense! But it all doesn’t!!!
I honestly was leaning for 4.5 stars on this book until I learned how Colleen and Tarryn had dropped clues in every line. Freakin’ genius I tell you. This wasn’t just enjoyable writing that leaves you rooting for two teens that you know should be together but have had some rough circumstances. This was well thought out and perfectly executed! 5 AMAZINGLY BRILLIANT STARS!!!! Can NOT wait for Never Never: Part Two!

Happy Reading,

Alison

Review ~ Opal (Lux #3)

Title: Opal

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series: Lux #3

Release Date: Dec. 11, 2012

Genre: Sci-fi/NA/Romance

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different… And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger… and they know it.

Opal

Opal

My ****4.5 Star**** Review

The ending is what did it for me with this book. I honestly wasn’t feeling this book as much as the previous ones (although I still love the series as a whole), but the ending completely made up for the slow parts. I would be absolutely freaking out if I had to wait on the next book right now! I have to say that I’ve already read the next book, Origin, and it’s probably my favorite of the whole series, so keep reading if you’ve made it this far!

Don’t get me wrong either. This book didn’t suck. I just didn’t find myself as taken in on a whole. There are still some very exciting and intense moments. Kat faces some really big trials in this one. There’s also some heart-melting moments with Daemon. But, hey, almost all moments with Daemon are spectacular!

You can check out a little teaser from Opal HERE. I’ll be posting my review of Origin this Sunday, so be sure to check that out! I love to hear from other fans of the series!

Happy Reading,

Alison