Unmarked by Kami Garcia

Unmarked by Kami Garcia
Release Date: September 30, 2014
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 384
Series: The Legion #2
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

The heart-pounding sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller, Unbreakable, by New York Times bestselling Beautiful Creatures co-author Kami Garcia.

He is here... and he could be anyone.

Kennedy Waters lives in a world where vengeance spirits kill, ghosts keep secrets, and a demon walks among us–a demon she accidentally set free.

Now Kennedy and the other Legion members–Alara, Priest, Lukas, and Jared–have to hunt him down. As they learn more about the history of the Legion and the Illuminati, Kennedy realizes that the greatest mystery of all does not belong to any secret order, but to her own family. With the clock ticking and the life of someone she loves hanging in the balance, Kennedy has to ask the question she fears most: what is it about her past that has left her Unmarked?

My Thoughts:
One of the things I absolutely adored about the first book, Unbreakable, was the Supernatural feel to it. They hunted down clues in different locations, they fought off spirits or whatever came their way. In terms of cast members it was more of a Scooby Gang, but the feel of the book was pure early days Supernatural, and it was awesome. Needless to say I was disappointed when that feeling was missing here.

While the book has a different feel to it, that doesn’t mean it lacks in excitement. There are some huge reveals that I can't really even hint around, because they’re massive spoilers that you definitely want to read for yourself. There’s a lot going on in regards to studying the history and mythology behind the Legion of the Black Dove. Because so much happened I can’t really say that Unmarked suffers from second book syndrome. What I can say is that I should have been excited by how action packed the book was, but instead I was almost bored at times because of where it ended up. I think what I missed were the quieter moments, like the conversations between Kennedy and a certain character (you might guess who, but I can’t talk about it, because, of course, spoilers).

Another thing I didn’t care for was the complete cliffhanger ending. While the first book also ended at a crazy moment, it ended in a place that the book was leading you to. The group had followed a set of clues and the book ended after the big reveal. In Unmarked, on the other hand, we’re still working towards something when the book suddenly ends. Yes, a piece of information is revealed, but plotwise we’re totally hanging off a cliff, which is not my cup of tea.

I definitely still enjoyed this book, but I didn’t love it like the first book. I look forward to where the series is going -- I just wish it had stayed closer to the first book with group antics and more conversations, instead of Kennedy being so insular.

The Cover:
Kind of meh?

Rating:
[3/5]

Purchase Links:
Kobo | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Chapters-Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Kiss Kill Vanish by Jessica Martinez

Kiss Kill Vanish by Jessica Martinez
Release Date: October 7, 2014
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 432
Series: n/a
Review Source: Edelweiss

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

Valentina Cruz no longer exists.

One moment, she was wrapped in Emilio’s arms, melting into his kiss. The next, she was witnessing the unthinkable: a murder in cold blood, ordered by her father and carried out by her boyfriend. When Emilio pulled the trigger, Valentina disappeared. She made a split-second decision to shed her identity and flee her life of privilege, leaving the glittering parties and sultry nightlife of Miami far behind.

She doesn’t know how to explain to herself what she saw. All she knows now is that nothing she believed about her family, her heart, or Emilio’s love, was real.

She can change her name and deny her past, but Valentina can’t run from the truth. The lines between right and wrong, and trust and betrayal, will be blurred beyond recognition as she untangles the deceptions of the two men she once loved and races to find her own truth.

My Thoughts:
What is there to say about Kiss Kill Vanish? This book is amazing! It’s exciting, romantic, and thrilling; it kept me at the edge of my seat.

It's hard to talk specifics without giving away details because this is a very twisty book, one where you're never sure who to trust. Valentina, or Jane as she’s going by in Montreal, is hiding from her boyfriend and her father. There’s this whole dichotomy between V’s quiet life in Montreal, practicing her mandolin, and the life she’s left behind in Miami -- a life that she’s reminded of through her involvement with two rich boys.

There’s definitely a slow reveal structure to the book, where for a lot of the time you’re guessing about what exactly happened back in Miami. As you figure out some of what's going on it's very intense and emotional. There’s also a very romantic feel to the book, both with how Valentina got involved in this situation, and in another aspect which I can’t even really allude to. Let’s just say that there’s one character who is so different from who he starts as and I really loved him, even in his first couple of scenes.

I really believe that Kiss Kill Vanish is the strongest of Jessica Martinez’s books so far. It’s been months since I read this novel, but I still remember how it felt to read it. It’s an amazing, thrilling book that I would recommend to everyone.

The Cover:
Adore!!

Rating:
[5/5]

Purchase Links:
Kobo | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Chapters-Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Her Dark Places by Kelly Killarney

Her Dark Places by Kelly Killarney
Release Date: June 3, 2014
Publisher: Self-Published
Pages: 175
Series: The Sutton Files #1
Review Source: eBook from author for review

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
‘Veronica Mars’ meets ‘Felicity’ in this sexy, snarky, New Adult Romantic Suspense novel.

Jasmine “Jazz” Holloway gets more than she bargained for when she heads to Sutton College for her freshman year. A long-distance relationship with her high-school boyfriend is tough to maintain. Especially when Brennan, the cute boy down the hall, keeps flirting. And after someone starts threatening her roommate, Jazz enlists the help of Sean, a smokin’ hot upperclassman who runs a P.I. agency out of a darkened corner of the library.

Jazz has to fight her attraction to both guys as she works to uncover the stalker. But as the stakes rise and tension heightens, the hardest part for Jazz will be keeping her own secret...what she’s really doing at Sutton College. And that’s something no one can know.

My Thoughts:
Her Dark Places was pitched to me as Veronica Mars meets Felicity, which is basically my dream book. I have to say that it really lived up to this for the most part, so A+ to the author for making accurate comparisons. The book features a Veronica Mars-esque snarky heroine who champions her friends and can lash out and act rashly when hurt. The Felicity aspect comes in with Jazz starting her first year at college, settling in and forming new relationships, with Audrey, her roommate, and with Sean and Brennan, two very opposite guys.

Since this is a book set at college I wouldn’t have minded some more scenes about actual class work, but this doesn’t really detract from the book in any way. I enjoyed Her Dark Places quite a bit. It’s a quick read with a satisfying ending. There’s an overarching mystery that will continue with the series, and an episodic mystery that's completed within this book. Her Dark Places is exactly the type of series book that I enjoy. There’s some conclusion, but also enough questions and unresolved issues to keep you coming back.

I recommend Her Dark Places to fans of New Adult, especially to those looking for contemporary New Adult stories that are a bit different from the norm. This book puts the mystery at the forefront, which is a nice change of pace for the category. If you're looking for romance, though, you won't be disappointed. There's not what I would call a love triangle at all, but there are two guys who Jazz interacts with a lot, both of whom I really enjoyed reading about. Overall: a good story + interesting characters = a winning read.

The Cover:
I like it, though I must say when I first saw it I thought "paranormal" because of the blur and the wispy hair.

Rating:
[4/5]

Purchase Links:
Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble

A Matter of Forever by Heather Lyons (Tour Review & Giveaway)

A Matter of Forever by Heather Lyons
Release Date: May 15, 2014
Publisher: Cerulean Books
Pages: 278
Series: Fate #4
Review Source: eARC for review through Ink Slinger PR

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

It all comes down to this . . .

Chloe Lilywhite has struggled for years to find her footing in a series of dangerous and demanding worlds. Creator, first tier Council member, and one of the most powerful Magicals in existence, she was little more than one of Fate’s pawns. But now, Chloe is back home and ready to call the shots. She knows what she wants and who she wants to be.

Except the Elders never got the memo.

Annar and Magical-kind are under attack. The lives of Chloe’s loved ones, and life as they know it, are at stake. Chloe's the key to taking the Elders down, but they won't go quietly into the night.

This time, neither will Chloe.

*This is a New Adult title, suitable for readers 18+.

My Thoughts:
Looking at my review notes for A Matter of Forever, my first response was “wow wow wow!” That alone says a lot. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I believe that Heather Lyons gets better with every book she writes. While this isn’t my favourite book of hers (The Deep End of the Sea holds that honour), I absolutely enjoyed it.

I think the theme word for the Fate series, but especially for A Matter of Forever, should be "intense". This book features intense action, intense emotions, and intense decisions. There are some seriously swoony scenes in this book, and a few lighter moments, but mostly I would say that this book features emotional upheaval. The journey comes to an end in this book, which means there are a lot of things happening. I thought it was pretty much the perfect conclusion, although I think the ending will be contentious to some. It’s a painful ending, but a beautiful one too. As much as it hurt to read, I understand why Heather ended things this way, and I do believe that it was the only way that any type of Happily Ever After could be achieved.

There are a lot of things about the Fate series that I really enjoy. I loved the continued role of surrogate parents in this book, that you can have a family of your choosing. I also enjoyed the platonic love between Will and Chloe. In terms of world building, I think that Heather Lyons has created something that’s easily on par with what the big New York publishers put out. If you haven’t read this series, I definitely recommend it. These books are very addictive, and I almost guarantee that they will have you emotionally involved from the very beginning.

The Cover:
Pretty.

Rating:
[4/5]

Purchase Links:
Kobo | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble

And don’t miss the first books in the Fate Series!

A MATTER OF FATE (Fate Series #1) Just $.99 right now!
BEYOND FATE (Fate Series #1.5) Just $.99 right now!
A MATTER OF HEART (Fate Series #2)
A MATTER OF TRUTH (Fate Series #3)

About Heather:
Heather Lyons has always had a thing for words—She’s been writing stories since she was a kid. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. Heather is a rabid music fan, as evidenced by her (mostly) music-centric blog, and she’s married to an even larger music snob. They’re happily raising three kids who are mini music fiends who love to read and be read to.

Where to find Heather:
Website | Author Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest

GIVEAWAY:

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Three by Kristen Simmons

Three by Kristen Simmons
Release Date: February 11, 2014
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 384
Series: Article 5 #3
Review Source: eARC from publisher through Raincoast Books

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

Ember Miller and Chase Jennings are ready to stop running. After weeks spent in hiding as two of the Bureau of Reformation’s most wanted criminals, they have finally arrived at the safe house, where they hope to live a safe and quiet existence.

And all that’s left is smoking ruins.

Devastated by the demolition of their last hope, Ember and Chase follow the only thing left to them—tracks leading away from the wreckage. The only sign that there may have been survivors.

With their high profile, they know they can’t stay out in the open for long. They take shelter in the wilderness and amidst the ruins of abandoned cities as they follow the tracks down the coast, eventually finding refugees from the destroyed safe house. Among them is someone from Chase’s past—someone he never thought he’d see again.

Banding together, they search for a place to hide, aiming for a settlement a few of them have heard about…a settlement that is rumored to house the nebulous organization known as Three. The very group that has provided Ember with a tiny ray of hope ever since she was first forced on the run.

Three is responsible for the huge network of underground safe houses and resistance groups across the country. And they may offer Ember her only chance at telling the world her story.

At fighting back.

My Thoughts:
Kristen Simmons concludes her fabulous Article 5 trilogy with a book full of incredibly high stakes. It seems like there’s danger and risk for the main characters at every turn, which made for an awesome, but nerve wracking, read.

Ember has come so far from the first book. There’s a real transformation in her character that is documented throughout the series. She’s brave and strong, but she also questions who she is: the person she was versus who she's become. Ember struggles a bit, not feeling entirely comfortable with the things that she's done personally and the things that she's accepted because of the situations they’ve been in.

I absolutely loved the interactions between Ember and Chase, the fact that they stayed strong and recognized how they're so much better together, but that there were still moments of tension between them. Chase is such an interesting character, and I adore him as a love interest. He’s a great guy, but he’s not that “perfect” character. Chase struggles sometimes, and he doesn’t always like sharing about his problems. Chase is this completely tough macho soldier type, but he’s also so much more than that. He has panic attacks, and he doesn’t like fighting, even though that’s what he’s good at. He’s strong and desirable, but he has a tough time dealing emotionally with the things that he’s done.

The beginning of Three is a teensy bit slow. It’s not that I found it boring at all, but I wanted more action and less sitting around and talking about what to do. Very quickly this changed and the book became extremely exciting, with crazy reveals and hold your breath type of action. Overall I thought this was a completely perfect end to the trilogy. It didn’t wrap everything in a bow with a magical solution, but neither did it leave you hanging with some far off hope like how another certain dystopian trilogy did. The end of Three leaves off with the main characters in a good place, giving the reader even more hope for the greater political situation. This was such a great book, and I really can’t recommend this trilogy highly enough.

The Cover:
Not my favourite, but I like how the three books look together.

Rating:
[5/5]

Purchase Links:
Kobo | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Chapters-Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

A Little Too Hot by Lisa DesRochers (Review, Character Interview, & Giveaway)

A Little Too Hot by Lisa DesRochers
Release Date: January 21, 2014
Publisher: William Morrow Impulse
Pages: 284
Series: A Little Too Far #3
Review Source: Edelweiss

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

If you play with fire…

Tossed out of college and cut off by her parents, Samantha West is in pretty dire straits. So when her rocker best friend hooks her up with a job dancing at a gentlemen’s club, who is she to turn it down? Plus, there are rules to dancing at Benny’s: No touching, keep your clothes on at all times, and never get closer than three feet. Unfortunately for Sam, her first private client makes her want to break every single one of them.

Harrison Yates is scorching hot, but he’s got a past that involves being left at the altar not too long ago. Sam is determined to make him forget about his ex, but when she makes her move, it flings her life into a spiral of chaos she never saw coming.

Because Harrison Yates isn’t who he seems to be. And his secret will probably get her killed.

My Thoughts:
I’m a huge fan of the first two New Adult titles from Lisa DesRochers (A Little Too Far & A Little Too Much), so I was very much looking forward to reading this one. Thankfully, it didn’t disappoint. What I really appreciate about these three books is that they each had very different plotlines and feels to them. A Little Too Hot has more of an action and suspense feel to it than the previous two. Without giving too much away, we see Sam thrown into a situation that’s way over her head, and the majority of the book is about dealing with that danger.

Sam is such an intriguing character. In the first book she definitely came across as unlikeable, especially if you were really rooting for Lexie and Trent. Because of this, it was interesting to have her as the protagonist, seeing things from her perspective. I love when you can identify with a character you previously disliked: I think it takes a lot of talent from the author. Seeing how Sam feels about past events you can almost place her as the victim, especially when you see how she regrets certain events. I couldn’t relate to Sam in her partying ways, but I could definitely identify with her questioning what was next in her life, and empathize with how she felt abandoned by her friends and family.

Lisa DesRochers is fabulous at writing romantic chemistry, and it’s totally off the charts here. When the characters are stuck in close quarters and have to deal with their forbidden feelings you can feel the sparks between them. If you're looking for a little bit of something different from New Adult (romantic suspense!), I would definitely recommend you check out A Little Too Hot.

The Cover:
=(

Rating:
[Strong 4/5]

Purchase Links:
Kobo | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Google Play
(Amazon links are affiliate links)

Praise for A Little Too Hot:
“Every page is deliciously breathtaking, wickedly sexy and sensational. A LITTLE TOO HOT is wonderfully unique and a LOT HOT! I am a HUGE Lisa Desrochers fan.”
— Katy Evans, New York Times bestselling author of REAL, MINE, and REMY

“Lisa is brilliant at creating sizzling sexual tension and impossible circumstances that make the reader hold their breath all the way to happy ever after. Sam and Harrison are more than A Little Too Hot, they are scorching!"
— Jay Crownover, New York Times bestselling author of RULE, JET, and ROME

“Lisa Desrochers’ best yet! A LITTLE TOO HOT is hotter than hot with all the emotional punch to back it up!”
— Sophie Jordan, New York Times bestselling author

Character Interview with Sam

Hi, Sam. Tell us a little about yourself. How have you changed since A Little Too Far?
Getting cut off by my parents after getting thrown out of college has been a little sobering, not to mention almost getting killed (twice) so, yeah, I’ve changed some. In hindsight, I guess I’ve always kind of taken things for granted, so I guess change isn’t a bad thing, but I’d have preferred to skip the nearly-getting-me-and-my-friends-killed portion of the life lesson. The good news: After everything that happens in A LITTLE TOO HOT, I think I finally have my priorities straight. And my best friend back.

You're into self-defense and karate. What appeals to you about these activities?
Seriously? They’re kick-ass. (Literally.) I love the power and control. I also love being able to empower other women by teaching them to defend themselves. It’s a really great feeling.

You come across an interesting guy in A Little Too Hot. Without getting spoilery, how would you describe Harrison?
Oh, geez. Harrison is…just…incredible. Lame, I know, but it’s totally true. He’s tough, but also the most caring person I’ve ever met. He can keep up with me (and maybe even beat me) in martial arts, and I know for a fact, because he’s demonstrated it on more than one occasion, that he’d protect me at any cost. And let’s not even talk about the accent. That cowboy can ride me anytime he wants. ;-)

New Adult books have a lot of awesome love interests, but they also have fabulous female protagonists (such as yourself!). Are there any New Adult characters you'd like to meet or could see yourself becoming friends with?
I hang out with Shaw, Ayden, and Cora from Jay Crownover’s hot boy novels, RULE, JET, and ROME all the time because they definitely know how to have a good time, and our authors are in author love. (Just ask Jay ;p) I’d also love to hang out with Bliss from Cora Carmack’s LOSING IT, because she’s a little goofy (like a female version of my rocker BFF, Jonathan) and everyone needs a little goofy in their lives.

Your creator, Lisa Desrochers, has talked about theme songs for the guys of the A Little Too Far books. Do you have your own theme song or a musical artist you particularly identify with?
This was a little bit of a bone of contention with me and Harrison at the beginning. He’s a country boy, and I couldn’t get my mind around the appeal. But I have to say, country music is starting to grow on me. I used to be all about pop, but now I’m kind of into more crossover sounds, like Colby Caillat and Lady Antebellum. I still love my Bruno Mars, though.

What would you like to tell readers about A Little Too Hot? What do they have to look forward to?
Oh…there’s the thing about Harrison that no one seems to see coming—including me. There’s also…well…Harrison, who’s worth reading about all by himself. Because he’s…you know…smokin’ hot. And there’s my buddy Jonathan, who I love with all my heart, especially when he sings to me…or, you know… takes a bullet for me and stuff like that. There are swimming pool scenes and kitchen scenes and balcony scenes…yeah…a lot of scenes. And did I mention Harrison…?

Thanks for stopping by, Sam!

Don't her answers make you want to pick up the book??

About Lisa:
Lisa Desrochers is the USA Today bestselling author of A LITTLE TOO FAR , courtesy of HarperCollins, and companions, A LITTLE TOO MUCH (Nov 12, 2013), and A LITTLE TOO HOT (Jan 21, 2014). Also in stores is her YA PERSONAL DEMONS trilogy (Macmillan).
She lives in central California with her husband and two very busy daughters. There is never a time that she can be found without a book in her hand, and she adores stories that take her to new places, and then take her by surprise.

Where to find Lisa:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY:
International, hosted by author

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You can follow along with the rest of the tour HERE.