These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
Release Date: December 10, 2013
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 374
Series: Starbound #1
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

A timeless love story, THESE BROKEN STARS sets into motion a sweeping science fiction series of companion novels. The Starbound Trilogy: Three worlds. Three love stories. One enemy.

My Thoughts:
I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that These Broken Stars is one of the most hyped books of this season. Based on the cover (holy gorgeous!) and the concept (the beginning is like Titanic in space!!), I can see why. However, in actuality this book failed to wholly captivate me.

The beginning of These Broken Stars had me totally on board (err, no pun intended, seriously). The Titanic in space feel was amazing, with the different classes in different quarters, the lifeboat-esque escape pods, watching the ship go down… all of that was very real and exciting feeling. I also enjoyed how the book turned into a survival journey, with Tarver and Lilac in this abandoned setting, scared and trying to get help. Even the trope of the misunderstood rich girl falling for the tough hero with a sensitive side worked for me. Probably my favourite element of the book is the parts in between chapters where Tarver is being interviewed (interrogated, really) about the events of the book -- you can see where he's lying or omitting things compared to their narrative, and I loved the way this was presented.

So with all these good things, where did this book go wrong for me? I’m not entirely sure. I can’t say I disliked it, but it just didn’t wow me like I expected it to. Something about the romance, even though I liked the idea, didn’t work for me. The characters seemed to have depth, based on all their hidden layers, but I just didn’t connect with them. There’s also a twist about three quarters of the way through the book and I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it. I didn’t like what happened, and how it was handled was interesting, but not my cup of tea. There’s an almost psychological element that comes up, and I didn’t like how suddenly I wasn’t sure of what was happening.

These Broken Stars is definitely a book that I feel most people will enjoy. Personally, I wanted more explanation for the sci-fi element, and I felt like the book dragged on, especially closer to the end. However, I’ve heard basically nothing but good things about it from fellow bloggers, and there were many great things within the book, so I think it’s one you’ll have to check out for yourself.

The Cover:
Gorgeoussssss.

Rating:
[3/5]

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

Letters to Nowhere by Julie Cross (Book Blitz + Giveaway)

Letters to Nowhere by Julie Cross

From the International Bestselling Author of the Tempest Series...

Set in the tough world of Elite Gymnastics...

I've gotten used to the dead parents face. I've gotten used to living with my gymnastics coach. I've even adjusted to sharing a bathroom with his way-too-hot son. Dealing with boys is not something that's made it onto my list of experiences as of yet. But here I am, doing it. And something about Jordan--being around him, talking to him, thinking about him--makes me feel like I can finally breathe again. That's something I haven't been able to do lately. He knows what it feels like to be me right now. He knows what it's like to wonder--what now? I think about it constantly. I need answers. I need to know how to get through this. In the gym, if you're struggling, you train harder, you do drills and conditioning. How do I work hard at moving on? At being on my own? And what happens if I might be...maybe...probably falling for Jordan? I mean we live together now. That can't happen, can it? But kissing him...well, let's just say it's not an easy activity to forget.

Buy Letters to Nowhere:
Amazon (99 cents!!) | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

5 Facts About Letters to Nowhere:

1. Since I started writing the book, I've envisioned my main character, Karen, as a red-headed McKayla Maroney even though I tried my best not to picture her as anyone specific.
2. I've been around the world of competitive gymnastics for at least 15 years and therefore have depicted elite level gymnastics as true-to-life as possible in this book.
3. The romance in LtN is not your typical "insta-love" or "fall in love then break up" format. This will please some and disappoint others.
4. My main character, Karen, has just lost both her parents in a tragic car accident prior to the book's opening however, I don't consider this a typical book about death either because there are so many other elements intertwined and Karen is a fighter, she's constantly driven by one goal or another. It's about rising up after a fall.
5. LtN is truly the book of my heart because I wanted, for so long, to find a way to combine by two greatest passions - YA Literature and Gymnastics.

TEASER:
Jordan stepped closer, resting a hand on the red brick beside my head. “I’m gonna kiss you.”

My stomach jumped up towards my heart. “What?”

“I’m going to kiss you.” He had this serious, determined look on his face. “I mean, I won’t if you don’t want me to . . .”

I could feel my eyes widen as he leaned closer, my heart hammering faster, every other muscle in my body completely frozen. No words of protest were able to fall from my tongue before his mouth was on mine. My eyes drifted shut, my stomach doing a dozen floor routines beneath my rib cage.

Book 2:
Return to Sender by Julie Cross

If only summer could last forever…

Karen and Jordan might be out in the open with their relationship, but that doesn't make it any easier for them to face events looming in the future. Like Jordan leaving for college halfway across the country. Or Karen's win at a big international gymnastics competition setting the bar high for her future and adding pressure like she's never experienced before.

But when Nina Jones (aka-US Gymnastics Dictator), makes plans for Karen and teammate Stevie to train at a gymnastics camp for a month—the same camp where Jordan coaches—romantic summer interludes replace their fears of being apart. Both Jordan and Karen know that when fall comes, some very tough decisions will have to be made, but for now, it’s stolen kisses, racing hearts, and whispered words.

Buy Return to Sender:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Book 3:
Return to You by Julie Cross

Releasing December 15th 2013

How many dreams can you chase at once?

Even with bad boy, TJ, disrupting their morning workouts, Karen and Stevie’s daily battles with each other are sure to bring both of them closer to a national title at next month’s championships. It’s the kind of feud that creates winning results.

Until a fall from the uneven bars shakes Karen’s rock-solid confidence. Not only does she balk every time she so much as attempts a routine, she’s also facing all this without much support from Jordan. After receiving some bad news, Jordan’s reluctance to listen to reason causes Karen so much frustration she begins to avoid him, needing space to deal with her own issues. He needs someone to force him to make the right choice, he needs his dad to intervene and Karen knows this, but is torn between her loyalty to Jordan and her concern for her coach’s son. Even though both paths lead to the same person—Jordan—it feels like she’s choosing between two different people.

And then there’s the growing tension between TJ and Stevie. They’re obviously on the verge of either ripping each other’s heads off or ripping each other’s clothes off. It’s hard for either Jordan or Karen to tell where those two are headed. Tension is building from every possible outlet and there’s bound to be an explosion of some kind in the very near future.

Letters to Nowhere is currently on sale for 99 cents on Amazon!

About Julie:
Julie Cross is the International Bestselling author of the Tempest series, a young adult science fiction trilogy which includes Tempest, Vortex, and the final installment, Timestorm (St. Martin's Press). She's also the author of Letters to Nowhere (8/13), a mature young adult romance set in the world of elite gymnastics, as well as several forthcoming young adult and new adult novels with publishers like Entangled, Sourcebooks, HarperCollins, and St. Martin's Press/Thomas Dunne Books.

Julie lives in Central Illinois with her husband and three children. She's a former gymnast, longtime gymnastics fan, coach, and former Gymnastics Program Director with the YMCA. She's a lover of books, devouring several novels a week, especially in the young adult and new adult genres. Outside of her reading and writing credibility's, Julie Cross is a committed--but not talented--long distance runner, creator of imaginary beach vacations, Midwest bipolar weather survivor, expired CPR certification card holder, as well as a ponytail and gym shoe addict. You can find her online via twitter, her personal website, email, facebook, Goodreads, or co-moderating the YAwriters section of reddit.

Where to find Julie:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY:
1 ebook copy of Letters to Nowhere, gifted from Amazon. Open internationally.

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At Any Price by Brenna Aubrey

At Any Price by Brenna Aubrey
Release Date: December 3, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Pages: 298
Series: Gaming the System #1
Review Source: eARC from author

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

Achievement Unlocked: Geek Virgin

When Mia Strong, proud geek-girl and popular gaming blogger, auctions off her virginity online, she knows she'll make waves. But what she will not be making is a love connection. Her rules are set in stone: One night. No further contact.

It's a desperate step, but it's the only way she can go to medical school and pay her mother's mounting hospital bills.

Difficulty Level: Millionaire CEO

Adam Drake, the enigmatic auction winner, is a software prodigy who made his first million at seventeen. Now, in his mid-twenties, he's sexy, driven and--as CEO of his own gaming company--he's used to making the rules. Before Mia knows what's happening, he's found the loophole in the rules of her auction. Every stipulation she's made to protect her heart gets tossed by the wayside.

She can't tell if he's playing her...or if he's playing for keeps.

My Thoughts:
I really am in awe of this book, mostly because I was super hesitant to read it because of the subject matter. I read a book about a girl auctioning off her virginity before and I seriously disliked it. The topic itself makes me skeptical and, having read that other book, I wasn’t really looking to read about it again. However something about this book and the way it was presented hinted at a deeper story, so I gave it a chance. I am so, so glad I did, because At Any Price ended up being one of the best New Adult books I’ve read in a long time.

This book presents nuanced characters who feel real. They have some major flaws, but they're lovely as well. You kind of have to take it on faith that Adam isn't just some skeeve who actually wants to buy Mia's virginity, otherwise I think the book would lose its charm. It becomes fairly obvious to the reader early on what kind of connection Adam has to Mia, but I liked that, because falling for a hero who would actually want to bid in an auction like that? So not my thing. So while you can take it on faith that Adam is a good guy, it’s never obvious the full reasons behind his plan, and you have to keep reading while you try and guess the whole story. Beyond the romantic lead, Brenna Aubrey also deserves praise for her portrayal of Heath, Mia’s best friend. It was a refreshing change to have Heath be his own complete person and not fit into the gay BFF caricature that so many fictional gay males are portrayed as.

At Any Price offers such a full and rich narrative. Brenna Aubrey has managed to bring all aspects of Mia's life into this book and make it feel effortless. There's the rich romance which slowly develops from a bud of attraction into a full bouquet of real feelings. There's also Mia's career goals and her overwhelming fear of failure. She’s so scared that her future won't live up to her own goals and expectations, and speaking as someone who has felt this, the author presents it perfectly. There's also the aspect of Mia’s hobby as a gamer and a game reviewer. I thought this was beautifully integrated as something that was important to Mia and that took up her time without having it bog down the text.

At Any Price surprised me in all the best ways. This book takes a taboo subject and presents it with an intelligent twist. You can tell that Brenna Aubrey is aware of feminist issues, of things that girl gamers face, of fandom and blogging. All of these things are depicted perfectly in a book that also manages to portray a swoony but realistic romance. Adam and Mia are a couple who share an attraction and common interests, but they also have barriers that need to be overcome as they work toward building a mutual respect. This book features a good ending that readers will be satisfied with, however I’m also pleased that this series will continue to focus on Adam and Mia, rather than moving on to another couple, the way most romance series do.

The Cover:
A very typical NA cover, but I like it a lot!

Rating:
[5/5]

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

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