Edge of the Past by Jennifer Comeaux (Tour Review + Giveaway)

Release Date: November 27, 2012
Publisher: Astraea Press
Pages: 269
Series: Edge #2
Review Source: For review from publisher

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Emily's skating career and personal life have never been more golden. She and her partner Chris have won every competition they've entered this season, and she's found the man of her dreams in her coach Sergei. But when one of the biggest competitions of the year takes Emily and Sergei to Russia, Sergei's past explodes into the present and makes Emily doubt everything in their future.

My Thoughts:
I loved the first book of this series, Life on the Edge, so I was really looking forward to picking this one up. In the first book, beyond the skating aspect, it’s about Emily and Sergei falling in love. There are rough patches over whether their relationship can work, but overall it’s romantic and sweet. In this second book things are a lot darker and more emotional. It deals with parts of Sergei’s past that we learn about in the first book, and it’s all about trying to work that past into Em & Sergei’s future. I felt like I was drowning in emotion the whole time I was reading ‘Edge of the Past’. It was actually painful to read about in some parts, because you know that Sergei and Emily are this epic couple, and all you want for them is a Happily Ever After.

One of the most emotional aspects of this book comes in with the character of Elena. I absolutely hated her and felt so many things toward her, and I think this shows just how strong the writing is. The thing is, as an objective observer you might understand where Elena’s coming from, and by the end of the book I think you get a bit of an understanding of her as a character. However as a reader seeing Emily’s POV I really can’t forgive Elena’s behaviour, and even now long after I read the book I get knots in my stomach thinking of that character and some of the scenes she’s involved in.

I did miss the skating aspect in this book. It wasn’t in the forefront here, and therefore there were less scenes with some of the side characters from the skating rink. I definitely wanted more Chris, especially, but also more Aubrey and Marley. Still, I can understand that this book was more about the emotional journey and less about the skating goals than the first book was. The first book was a sweet new adult romance with that big sports aspect while this second book is far more character driven, with emotional upheaval. ‘Edge of the Past’ is all about dealing with the situations that life hands out, and trying to survive when the life you thought you would have gets turned upside-down.

‘Edge of the Past’ features very powerful writing, even stronger than in the first book. It’s a heavy and emotional story, but also an amazing one with a satisfying ending. I did feel like the ending came about a bit quickly after all the turmoil throughout the book; with the amount of pages left at one point I couldn’t see how the ending could possibly be hopeful or happy. Thankfully there was a change and I was left satisfied with the ending overall. Despite some minor issues I can’t help but give this book five stars for the emotions it filled me with. I ended up staying up until 3:30 in the morning finishing it because I just had to know what would happen and how Sergei and Emily could possibly attain their happily ever after. I fell even more in love with these characters and their story while reading 'Edge of the Past'. If you haven’t checked out this series yet I highly recommend that you do so.

The Cover:
Very pretty.

Rating:
[5/5]

Find Edge of the Past by Jennifer Comeaux on Goodreads. See Jennifer's site for purchase links.

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Shadowlands by Kate Brian

Release Date: January 8, 2013
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 336
Series: Shadowlands #1
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Rory Miller had one chance to fight back and she took it. Rory survived… and the serial killer who attacked her escaped. Now that the infamous Steven Nell is on the loose, Rory must enter the witness protection with her father and sister, Darcy, leaving their friends and family without so much as a goodbye.

Starting over in a new town with only each other is unimaginable for Rory and Darcy. They were inseparable as children, but now they can barely stand each other. As the sisters settle in to Juniper Landing, a picturesque vacation island, it seems like their new home may be just the fresh start they need. They fall in with a group of beautiful, carefree teens and spend their days surfing, partying on the beach, and hiking into endless sunsets. But just as they’re starting to feel safe again, one of their new friends goes missing. Is it a coincidence? Or is the nightmare beginning all over again?

My Thoughts:
I have been a Kate Brian fan for years and years, so I was very excited when I first saw the synopsis for this book. This author is incredibly talented at creating “crazy killer” characters and some intense twisty plots (see: Private and Privilege series), so I knew that this book would be intense and exciting. After reading ‘Shadowlands’ I can definitely say I was correct in this assessment.

It might be weird to start off a review talking about the book’s ending, but this ending is insane and I actually didn’t see it coming at all! You know that something eerie is going on, but I never would have guessed at the ending. What’s perfect about this ending is that it makes the book all the more brilliant. It’s an ending where you want to go back and find clues and see how brilliant the plotting is with hints and suggestions. And that’s really all I can say without giving the secret away, but I have a feeling that most people’s jaws will drop within the last few pages.

As mentioned, this book does feature some of the same aspects as some Kate’s previous books, but ‘Shadowlands’ is also written in a completely different way. It’s more of a psychological thriller in some ways where you’re on the edge of your seat trying to figure out if this is a relatively simple story of avoiding a killer or whether there’s something below the surface. The setting is a mysterious island that is cut off from technology and the modern world in so many ways, and that just adds to the book’s mystery.

I loved the book’s narrator, Rory, and I enjoyed reading about her relationship with her sister and her dad. The whole population of the island, especially the teenagers that Rory and her sister begin to hang around with, are so mysterious and interesting that you really can’t wait to figure out what is happening with them. Really this book was so twisty turny and different from what I expected it to be, and yet it was really amazing -- I wholeheartedly enjoyed reading 'Shadowlands', and I’m intrigued to see where the next book will go after that crazy reveal.

The Cover:
Like it! And I feel like it really fits the story once you've read the whole book.

Rating:
[4/5]

Find Shadowlands by Kate Brian on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

Altered by Jennifer Rush

Release Date: January 1, 2013
Publisher: Little, Brown & Co.
Pages: 336
Series: Altered #1
Review Source: Finished copy for review from Hachette Book Group Canada (@HBGCanada)

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
When you can’t trust yourself, who can you believe?

Everything about Anna’s life is a secret. Her father works for the Branch at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below their farmhouse. There’s Nick, Cas, Trev . . . and Sam, who’s stolen Anna’s heart. When the Branch decides it’s time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape, killing the agents sent to retrieve them.

Anna is torn between following Sam or staying behind in the safety of her everyday life. But her father pushes her to flee, making Sam promise to keep her away from the Branch, at all costs. There’s just one problem. Sam and the boys don’t remember anything before living in the lab—not even their true identities.

Now on the run, Anna soon discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them expected. And if they’re both going to survive, they must piece together the clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all away.

My Thoughts:
To be honest my first thought when I read about this book was “a book full of hot boys? yes please!” (which actually sounds kind of pervy considering they’re teen boys... hmm). Add in genetic alterations, government conspiracy, and some romance and I was totally sold on this book. Thankfully I can say that ‘Altered’ did not disappoint. It was exciting and kept me flipping the pages as the boys and Anna tried to find clues and solve riddles in order to find answers and, ultimately, safety.

I loved how each of the guys had distinct personalities and different types of relationships with Anna. I also loved how the boys related to each other; they were tight like brothers, despite being physically separated for so long. The romance in the book between Anna and Sam didn’t end up being my favourite (it seemed sudden once you realize some of the character motivations), but it was still sweet, and I look forward to seeing more of these characters together.

There’s a killer twist closer to the end of the book that I actually didn’t see coming. I love it when a book can surprise me, because so often I seem to guess the “twists and turns” -- I think it’s a hazard from reading so much. However, I feel like even if you did manage to figure it out it still wouldn’t ruin the story: it would just make it more interesting to see when the characters will figure it out or have it revealed. There are so many different secrets and mysteries in the book that it was a real pleasure to try and unravel them all.

‘Altered’ is all about conspiracy and secrets and trying to survive. The book is completely action-packed with the main characters being on the run and having to fight for that survival. Overall it was exactly what I was looking for at the time, and I really enjoyed it.

The Cover:
Gorgeous!! Even better in person, too.

Rating:
[4/5]

Find Altered by Jennifer Rush on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.