Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier

Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier (translated from the German by Anthea Bell)
Release Date: October 8, 2013
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (Macmillan)
Pages: 464
Series: Edelstein Trilogie #3
Review Source: eARC from publisher through Raincoast Books

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Gwen has a destiny to fulfill, but no one will tell her what it is.
She’s only recently learned that she is the Ruby, the final member of the time-traveling Circle of Twelve, and since then nothing has been going right. She suspects the founder of the Circle, Count Saint-German, is up to something nefarious, but nobody will believe her. And she’s just learned that her charming time-traveling partner, Gideon, has probably been using her all along.

This stunning conclusion picks up where Sapphire Blue left off, reaching new heights of intrigue and romance as Gwen finally uncovers the secrets of the time-traveling society and learns her fate.

My Thoughts:
It’s strange, but I think the word I would most use to describe these books is “cute” or "fun". There’s such a crazy light hearted humour to them that you wouldn't expect based on the subject matter. I’m always curious in cases of translated books how much of the tone was able to carry over in an authentic way, and how much was brought in by the translator.

The interesting dichotomy to these books is that they’re very cute and zany, and yet the time travel aspect is super complicated. It had been a while since I’d read Book 2 (Sapphire Blue), and I know that didn’t help my understanding. All the time lines, people, and what the society was trying to do got a bit confusing for me.

I think my favourite part about these books is the characters and how they interact. I especially loved seeing Gwen with her siblings. Of course on the romantic front there’s Gwen and Gideon, who are a very fun couple because of how great a match they make, despite their incredible differences. Overall this was an enjoyable book. I wish the time travel aspects had been a bit clearer, but the characters and their interactions make up for that. The end of the book came about quickly, but it was a clever ending, and I liked how things were wrapped up.

The Cover:
I absolutely love the hardcovers for this series!

Rating:
[Strong 3/5]

Find Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill (Review + Giveaway)

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill
Release Date: September 3, 2013
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 368
Series: All Our Yesterdays #1
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
"You have to kill him." Imprisoned in the heart of a secret military base, Em has nothing except the voice of the boy in the cell next door and the list of instructions she finds taped inside the drain.

Only Em can complete the final instruction. She’s tried everything to prevent the creation of a time machine that will tear the world apart. She holds the proof: a list she has never seen before, written in her own hand. Each failed attempt in the past has led her to the same terrible present—imprisoned and tortured by a sadistic man called the doctor while war rages outside.

Marina has loved her best friend James since the day he moved next door when they were children. A gorgeous, introverted science prodigy from one of America’s most famous families, James finally seems to be seeing Marina in a new way, too. But on one disastrous night, James’s life crumbles apart, and with it, Marina’s hopes for their future. Now someone is trying to kill him. Marina will protect James, no matter what. Even if it means opening her eyes to a truth so terrible that she may not survive it. At least not as the girl she once was.

All Our Yesterdays is a wrenching, brilliantly plotted story of fierce love, unthinkable sacrifice, and the infinite implications of our every choice.

My Thoughts:
This book is SO GOOD! Seriously, I’m finding it difficult to remember a comparable book where I found it so engaging right from the very beginning. I empathized immediately with the characters, and I was so curious to try and figure out their situation.

This book is full of twisty turny time travel, where the main characters are trying to prevent a horrible future from occurring. After trying so many other options, someone they know needs to be killed in the past, to save the future of the world (not a spoiler, as the synopsis tells you all about it). To kill someone before they’ve committed evil acts brings up all kinds of issues, both ethical and scientific.

‘All Our Yesterdays’ features a lot of gasp-worthy moments and tons of action. It’s also heartbreaking as you see the Marina, James, and Finn from the past and compare them with their future selves. You see what they're trying to prevent, but like Em you can't help but want to believe the best about people and hope for something better.

This book is incredibly emotional as you become tangled up in the well being of the characters. It’s a book where you’re never sure exactly how it will all turn out, as there are super high stakes and so many different options as to what might occur. I really loved this book! It was exciting, interesting, and intricately plotted. ‘All Our Yesterdays’ features an ending that is perfectly bittersweet, but still happy to a degree. This book works so well as a standalone that I didn’t even know when I read it that there would be a sequel. I love how the story is wrapped up, but I’m also really excited to see where things go in the second book. Highly recommended.

The Cover:
Love!

Rating:
[5/5]

Find All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

About Cristin:
Cristin Terrill is a young adult author and aspiring grown-up. She grew up semi-nomadic and graduated from Vassar College with a degree in drama. After getting her masters in Shakespeare Studies from the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon, she lived in London, Austin, Boston, and Washington, DC while working as a theatrical stage manager. Now she writes and leads creative writing workshops for DC-area kids and teens. All Our Yesterdays is her first novel.

Where to find Cristin:
Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

GIVEAWAY

1 copy of All Our Yesterdays, US only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR SCHEDULE
Running August 20 - September 20, featuring reviews,
guest posts, interviews, and giveaways.

Cristin will also be participating in a Twitter Chat on September 17 (next Tuesday) at 6 pm EDT. Also taking part in the chat are YA authors Amalie Howard, Cheryl Rainfield, and Brian D. Anderson. All details can be found HERE.

A Tale of Two Centuries by Rachel Harris

A Tale of Two Centuries by Rachel Harris
Release Date: August 6, 2013
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Pages: 320
Series: My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century #2
Review Source: eBook for review from publisher

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Alessandra D’Angeli is in need of an adventure. Tired of her sixteenth-century life in Italy and homesick for her time-traveling cousin, Cat, who visited her for a magical week and dazzled her with tales of the future, Alessandra is lost. Until the stars hear her plea.

One mystical spell later, Alessandra appears on Cat’s Beverly Hills doorstep five hundred years in the future. Surrounded by confusing gadgets, scary transportation, and scandalous clothing, Less is hesitant to live the life of a twenty-first century teen…until she meets the infuriating—and infuriatingly handsome—surfer Austin Michaels. Austin challenges everything she believes in…and introduces her to a world filled with possibility.

With the clock ticking, Less knows she must live every moment of her modern life while she still can. But how will she return to the drab life of her past when the future is what holds everything she’s come to love?

My Thoughts:
This book was really cute and it was a lot of fun to read. It’s a real fish out of water story in many ways, with Alessandra coming from the 16th century and having to adapt to all things modern. It also contains an adorable romance which starts out as an antagonistic relationship, but quickly becomes mutual respect/admiration. This leads to a lot of very cute scenes as Austin introduces Less to things like amusement parks and surfing.

I loved seeing the Cat/Less dynamic back in place in this book, and also seeing what's been going on in Cat's life since she returned home. I loved how much Cat supported her cousin and encouraged her in her acting. This book is really about finding your passion, and the things that makes you you.

If you’re looking for a fun read, I would definitely recommend this one. I always look forward to reading Rachel Harris's works, and I already can't wait to check out the next book written by her.

The Cover:
It's cute.

Rating:
[3.5/5]

Find A Tale of Two Centuries by Rachel Harris on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier

Release Date: October 30, 2012
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Pages: 368
Series: Edelstein Trilogy #2
Review Source: eARC for review from publisher via Raincoast Books

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Gwen’s life has been a rollercoaster since she discovered she was the Ruby, the final member of the secret time-traveling Circle of Twelve. In between searching through history for the other time-travelers and asking for a bit of their blood (gross!), she’s been trying to figure out what all the mysteries and prophecies surrounding the Circle really mean.

At least Gwen has plenty of help. Her best friend Lesley follows every lead diligently on the Internet. James the ghost teaches Gwen how to fit in at an eighteenth century party. And Xemerius, the gargoyle demon who has been following Gwen since he caught her kissing Gideon in a church, offers advice on everything. Oh, yes. And of course there is Gideon, the Diamond. One minute he’s very warm indeed; the next he’s freezing cold. Gwen’s not sure what’s going on there, but she’s pretty much destined to find out.

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed ‘Ruby Red’, so I was very excited to read this second installment in the trilogy. I love the 'secret time travel society' concept of this series, and I just adore all the details of this that are included in the book. There are secrets and prophecies, and historical elements from the time travel. I thought it was so cool how details from the first book came into play and started to make sense -- it’s great when authors can tie details together like that.

I love the main character, Gwen, because she’s so strong and intelligent. The author also lets her be a typical teenager girl who’s going through something insane and has a crush on a boy, which is great. Gwen questions herself and questions Gideon’s feelings just like any normal girl would. I also loved Gwen’s Nancy Drew-esque friend Lesley, and their friendship. So often strong friendship is missing from YA novels if the novel itself isn’t about that friendship, so I was happy to see a good example here.

While I adored the Gwen/Gideon dynamic from the first novel, I have to say that I wasn’t feeling it here. Some aspects of the relationship seemed to happen way too quickly, and Gideon drove me crazy. He was far too hot and cold with mixed signals for my liking.

Another minor negative point is that while everything moved forward a bit, it didn’t really feel like much actually happened. It definitely felt like a Book 2 that was leading into a Book 3, rather than a book that could stand on its own as part of a series. However I definitely liked this one enough that it makes me curse the fact that I don’t know German, because I’m definitely itching to find out what happens in the next and final installment of the trilogy. While not every element of this book lived up to my expectations, the awesome time travel society definitely makes this book (and trilogy) one worth checking out.

The Cover:
Love it! I'm confused as to what cover is the final cover, though. Is this the paperback cover & the one above the hardback cover? Inquiring minds need to know. Melissa at Raincoast is my hero because she's confirmed that the beauty up there is the hardcover cover, and the full body girl is the paperback cover... so yay, they all match.

Rating:
[4/5]

Find Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone

Release Date: October 9, 2012
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 384
Series: n/a
Review Source: Finished copy for review from Hachette Book Group Canada (@HBGCanada)

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Anna and Bennett were never supposed to meet: she lives in 1995 Chicago and he lives in 2012 San Francisco. But Bennett has the unique ability to travel through time and space, which brings him into Anna’s life, and with him a new world of adventure and possibility.

As their relationship deepens, the two face the reality that time may knock Bennett back to where he belongs, even as a devastating crisis throws everything they believe into question. Against a ticking clock, Anna and Bennett are forced to ask themselves how far they can push the bounds of fate, what consequences they can bear in order to stay together, and whether their love can stand the test of time.

Fresh, exciting, and deeply romantic, Time Between Us is a stunning, spellbinding debut from an extraordinary new voice in YA fiction.

My Thoughts:
The concept of this book intrigued me, as I’m a sucker for time travel and romance. Put them together and I’m almost guaranteed to enjoy the book. That was definitely the case here, as ‘Time Between Us’ was a book where I easily identified with the characters and fell into their world.

I really loved the connection between Anna and Bennett. The time-crossed lovers bit upped the ante on the romance, and the characters just felt right together. I also loved how despite the fact that Anna puts trust and faith in Bennett, she doesn’t let him walk all over her. She demands respect and a stake in things: she won’t let decisions be made for her, and she wants Bennett and herself to be equal partners. This was a refreshing change from a lot of YA romance, and I applaud the author for writing such a strong character. The characters were awesome together, as I mentioned, but I would have liked some more discussion about what their relationship meant, considering their huge time barrier (the one that actually makes them very different ages in “real life”). I was definitely swept up in the romance, but the realist in me wanted some more concrete discussions about their future(s).

The one other part that prevented this from being five-stars was the wibbly wobbly timey wimey part (A+ and a cookie to those of you who appreciate that reference). Granted, I was reading this really quickly, but I didn’t quite understand the bit about Bennett’s sister and how that situation got resolved. I also would’ve liked an explanation about why Bennett’s abilities were stuck at that one point, and why a certain decision fixed them (how’s that for trying to explain but still remain vague-ish to prevent spoilers?). It was good for the characters, and a great ending, but in terms of time and space travel I was really lost as to why it mattered. Some stricter time travel rules and explanations would have really strengthened this book for me.

Despite those questions I had about the time travel rules, I was still impressed with this book. It made me want to sit there and just keep reading until the end, which isn’t always an easy thing to do, especially for a debut author. I loved the characters, and the writing style in general, and I have a feeling that there are many more great books to come from Tamara Ireland Stone. If you enjoy contemporary romance or sci-fi lite you’ll definitely appreciate ‘Time Between Us’.

The Cover:
Pretty!

Rating:
[4/5]

Find Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris

Release Date: September 11, 2012
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Pages: 304
Series: My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century #1
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze.

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore. Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?

My Thoughts:
If you’re looking for something light and fun, look no further than ‘My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century’. Ever since I saw that cover with the old timey clothes juxtaposed with the backpack I was intrigued by this book, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to review it. I feel like this book offers exactly what you’d expect it to. I was looking for a fun time travel adventure with a little bit of romance, and that’s precisely what I received.

The romance angle was definitely sweet. Even though Lorenzo seemed cheesy at first, he definitely becomes more appealing as Cat gets to know him. There was definitely major chemistry between these two! The time travel itself had a pretty solid explanation, despite it being magical, which I enjoyed. Cat herself is a bit hard to understand. She accepted her situation pretty easily, and she also seemed to change fairly easily. I would have liked her transformation to be a bit more gradual, and for the eventual lessons she learned to be less didactic.

Overall I would recommend 'My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century'. It doesn’t stick out as a favourite, but it does stand out as fun. This is a great read when you’re looking for something lighter, and it’s also appropriate for younger YAs.

The Cover:
It's cute and memorable, taking the 'girl in a dress' trend and making it fun of it a bit, while still being appealing.

Rating:
[3.5/5]

Find My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

Timepiece by Myra McEntire

Release Date: June 12, 2012
Publisher: Egmont USA
Pages: 336
Series: Hourglass #2
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking...

Kaleb Ballard's relentless flirting is interrupted when Jack Landers, the man who tried to murder his father, timeslips in and attacks before disappearing just as quickly. But Kaleb has never before been able to see time travelers, unlike many of his friends associated with the mysterious Hourglass organization. Are Kaleb's powers expanding, or is something very wrong?

Then the Hourglass is issued an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he's stolen on the time gene, or time will be altered with devastating results.

Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no choice but to use their unusual powers to find Jack. But where do they even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough...

The follow-up to Hourglass, Timepiece blends the paranormal, science fiction, mystery, and suspense genres into a nonstop thrill ride where every second counts.

My Thoughts:
It was extremely interesting that the narration in this second Hourglass book shifted to Kaleb’s point of view. Begrudgingly did I like it, and I think it was a bold choice that ended up working, yet I still can’t help but wish that Emerson was still the narrator. There was so much going on with Emerson in the background that I just wish we could have had insight into what she was thinking throughout the book.

What really works for me with these books is the way Myra McEntire writes time travel. The theories, the terms, and the way it all works is so interesting and well done. It never feels cheap or gimmicky... it just feels like the reality for these characters, and the author has done a great job at creating this feeling. This second book is very action packed and you definitely won't be bored, because there's tons going on. There are developments into stopping Jack and figuring out his whole motivations, new enemies of the Hourglass appear, and a romance for Kaleb also begins to blossom.

These are really good books, and yet I can’t seem to get very enthusiastic about them for some reason. I like them, don’t get me wrong, but maybe I just don’t connect with the characters as much as other people do. If you loved the first book, you will definitely love this one, and if you aren’t a fan of the series I would still suggest checking them out. They're a lot of fun, even if they don’t make it onto my favourites list.

The Cover:
It had me at damask.

Rating:
[3.5/5]

Find Timepiece by Myra McEntire on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.