Young Adult
Ferocious by Paula Stokes #Review + #Giveaway
Ferocious
Vicarious Series
Book #2
Paula Stokes
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Contemporary
Release Date: August 15, 2017
Publisher: Tor Teen (Macmillian)
ISBN: 978-0765380968
ASIN: B01MUDQD3B
Pages: 352
Word Count:
Goodreads Rating: 4.3
My Rating: 5.0
Book Description:
Paula Stokes returns to the world of Vicarious in this sequel, a high-action psychological thriller with a protagonist out for vengeance.
When Winter Kim finds out that her sister is dead and that she has a brother she never knew about, only two things matter―finding what’s left of her family and killing the man who destroyed her life. Her mission leads her from St. Louis to Los Angeles back to South Korea, where she grew up.
Things get increasingly dangerous once Winter arrives in Seoul. Aided by her friends Jesse and Sebastian, Winter attempts to infiltrate an international corporation to get close to her target, a nefarious businessman named Kyung. But keeping her last remaining loved ones out of the line of fire proves difficult, and when all seems to be lost, Winter must face one last devastating decision: is revenge worth sacrificing everything for? Or can she find a spark of hope in the darkness that threatens to engulf her?
Praise for VICARIOUS
“Combining elements of sci-fi and mystery, Vicarious is an expert blend from an author gifted with the ability to jump genres and stick the landing every time.” ―Paste Magazine
“A total mind-bending thrill ride, with a heroine who’s as smart as she is strong. Readers will love Winter!” ―Lindsay Cummings, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Zenith and The Murder Complex
“Reading Vicarious is like tiptoeing across a field of landmines. Blindfolded. Stokes delivers enough adrenaline to make readers beg for mercy.” ―Victoria Scott, author of Titans and Fire & Flood
“An action-packed thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end–I couldn’t put it down!” ―Kristi Helvig, author of Burn Out and Strange Skies
“Vicarious by Paula Stokes is a fast-paced thriller that grabs your attention on page one and doesn’t let go. The main character is a fresh take on the usual heroine in YA novels.” ―Julie Bond, Sales &Marketing Manager/YA Specialist, Read Booksellers
“This is the thrill ride you’ve been waiting for all summer.” ―PopCrush
“Pulse-pounding adventures and high-tech blend masterfully with romance, intrigue, and current issues, making this book completely captivating for any audience.” ―VOYA, starred review
“Stokes delivers fans of suspense a story full of twists and turns…The author admirably handles graphic and disturbing material in a subtle way.” ―School Library Journal
“A powerful kick-ass girl caught up in a high-tech, twisty mystery…Buckle up, this thrill ride travels at breakneck speed.” ―Justine Magazine
“Smart twists and turns…smart sci-fi worldbuilding. Complementing the mystery is a slow-burn love story between Winter and Mexican-American Jesse Ramirez, a fellow stunt artist. Their relationship is tender and complicated, with enough tension to sustain itself and enough heat to pop when things pay off.” ―Kirkus Reviews
My Take on the Book:
Whoa whoa whoa. I’m a bit late to this party and I’m a bit mad at myself because I honestly can’t believe that it took me this long to find out about Paula Stokes and this duology. I’m shook.
While I normally steer towards the more supernatural, paranormal or even dystopian novels I often enjoy novels that are stepped more in fact than fiction. This set of books does a great job of mering the real with fiction. While the ViSe recording technology that a good portion of these books focus on does not exist in our present day world, they did not seem too unbelievable or far off from reality.
I was particularly fond of the character developments, mainly Winter’s. I think Stokes did a great job portraying this character and shinning a light on the complexities of mental illness while helping to cast aside the stigma that surrounds it. In addition to these thoroughly fleshed out characters, I found myself really enjoying the romance. Most appealing to me was that this was not a instantaneous connection but rather a slow burn romance that started well before we were even introduced to the characters in book 1. It helped to make this story more realistic.
5 Quills
I can’t wait to get my hands on more books my Paula Stokes because if these two were anything to go by, this author is extremely talented. Loved this duology and I can’t recommend it enough. This series was well worth muddling my already hectic schedule and coming out of hiatus to review. If you like action and mystery these are the books for you. The technology in these books gave me a J.D. Robb type feel but the writing is not like any I’ve encountered before, making this an original and well thought out story!
About the Author 
Paula Stokes is the author of several novels, most recently Vicarious and Girl Against the Universe. Her writing has been translated into eleven foreign languages. Paula loves kayaking, hiking, reading, and seeking out new adventures in faraway lands. She also loves interacting with readers.
Photo Content from Paula Stokes
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3 Winners will receive a Set Copy of the Duology
{VICARIOUS+FEROCIOUS} by Paula Stokes.
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Heart in a Box Review + #Giveaway
Joss Olstad wins the fight to switch from her private school to a public high to “find her pieces” she lost when the Indian artist father she never knew died. There, Joss struggles with a slutty friend, who flirts with her new love; Indian Culture Club girls who press her on her past, as well as her stoner mother’s lies back at home. Armed only with her handmade heart boxes that hold private messages, Joss’s search for identity leads her to a scary industrial section of Queens, and a shocking family secret that changes everything.
About The Author
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“I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher for my honest opinion. I was in no way compensated for this review and all opinions are expressly my own”
The Cobbogoth Series Review + #Giveaway!
Uncovering Cobbogoth
Cobbogoth Series
Book #1
Hannah L. Clark
Norah Lukens needs to uncover the truth about the fabled lost city of Cobbogoth. After her archaeologist uncle’s murder, Norah is asked to translate his old research journal for evidence and discovers that his murder was a cover-up for something far more sinister.
When she turns to neighbor and only friend James Riley for help, she realizes that not only is their bitter-sweet past haunting her every step, but James is keeping dangerous secrets. Can Norah discover what they are before it’s too late to share her own.
My Take:
5 Quills
The Lemorian Crest
Cobbogoth Series
Book #2
Hannah L. Clark
After being raised from infancy in Boston, Mass., Noria (a.k.a Norah Lukens) has no idea what to expect upon entering New Cobbogoth, where she never would have guessed that paths of light can make you vanish; doors can lead to realms both near and far; myths and legends are actual history; a mere kiss can seal two souls as one; and, of course, a stone is never “just a stone.” Her Uncle Jack’s stories never could have prepared her for the magical and dangerous place her native realm is turning out to be.
When the Gihara’s promises begin to crumble, her best friend and soul-mate Jamus (a.k.a. James Riley) is in more danger than ever. Then when his father Lylend abandons her to search for an ancient relic called The Lemorian Crest and she is taken captive by the very people she’s risked everything to save, Noria begins to lose faith in the Cobbogothian gods and the mission they sent her home to accomplish.
Only when a series of new friendships and loyalties are forged in the most peculiar of places, does Noria dare hope again. Hope for Jamus’ safety, for their future together, and for the survival of the entire Cobbogothian race.
My Take:
I’m not sure how it is at all possible that this book is better than part 1, but it is. Once again I am in awe of the author’s ability to make me fall in love with a story and the characters involved. I had really high expectations for this book especially coming right off my high from book 1, but this threw those expectations right out of the water. It’s everything you would hope for from a sequel and so much more.
I was so happy to see the growth of these characters and witness and their transformations. This is truly a spectacular story. If I’m honest though, I was slightly worried that this book may fall flat. I was scared that while book one was an amazing high, that the author wouldn’t be able to follow through. I was scared that there would be too many inconsistencies and the story wouldn’t progress but all it did was pull me in. I’m definitely hooked on the series, I think the author is absolutely amazing, I am obsessed with these characters, and I cannot wait for book 3. I definitely need to know where the story is going to go, I need the resolution almost as much as Norah/Noria does!
About The Author
Hannah L. Clark lives with her husband and two children in the Rocky Mountains. She has always known she would be a storyteller. In 2006 she graduated from Utah Valley University with a bachelor’s degree in English and immediately began writing her first novel.Uncovering Cobbogoth was Clark’s first book in the seven book Cobbogoth series—a YA fantasy series based on her mythological brain-child, The Legend of the Cobbogothians. It was released in May 2014 through Cedar Fort Publishing. Book 2 in the series, The Lemorian Crest will be released in Summer 2015.
Clark loves running, mythology, singing while playing the guitar, herbal tea, escaping into imaginary worlds, and being with her peeps. Like her heroine Norah, she also kind of believes that trees might have souls, but must clarify that she has never hugged a tree. The closest she has ever come to that kind of bizarre behavior was the time she hugged the pillars outside Harry Potter Land. Which, all things considered, is not bizarre at all if one takes into account how exquisitely happy she was to finally be there.
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“I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher for my honest opinion. I was in no way compensated for this review and all opinions are expressly my own”
Holly Hearts Headlines Book Review + #Giveaway
Holly Hearts Headlines
Holly Hearts Hollywood
Book #2
Kenley Conrad
Genre: Young Adult Romance
Release Date: October 27, 2015
Publisher: Swoon Romance
ASIN: B013D07ZEC
Pages: 185
My Rating: 4.5
Book Description:
Holly Hart has it all: designer clothes, affluent friends, a recording contract, and she’s dating the biggest pop star in America.
It’s too bad he can’t be seen with her in public. It’s even worse that he seems so very cozy with Lacey, the girl who seems to enjoy stealing Holly’s dream and taking all the credit for their platinum-selling album.
And Lacey? Well she couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket, but that hasn’t stopped her from basking in the glow of the fame and fortune that comes with pretending to be Holly.
Yet, Holly signed a contract vowing to never reveal her true identity as the girl behind the hit songs. Her record label doesn’t want anyone to know their teen dream is really a chubby, insecure girl from Iowa.
Holly needs to focus on finals. She can’t let herself be distracted by the extremely hot and talented Grayson Frost or his prevailing attachment to Lacey. This is the deal Holly made, and she has to honor it no matter how much she hates it.
As if that’s not enough pressure, her grandparents have come to stay, her mom is dating a guy who makes his own deodorant, Shell Shocked Records want Holly to distance herself from Grayson, and she’ll probably end up failing Driver’s Ed.
In a town full of gossip and secrets, Holly wonders just how much longer she can continue to live a double life.
When the media gets a little too close for comfort, both Holly and Lacey are at risk. Soon Holly realizes her dream isn’t only about her and if she is to ever be truly happy, she’ll need to find a way past her insecurities.
Filled with laugh out loud and hold your breath moments, Holly Hearts Headlines is the follow-up to Holly Hearts Hollywood by Kenley Conrad.
My Take:
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. When I first came across it, I was intrigued but slightly skeptical. It seemed like something that had already been done… a blatant reproduction. Luckily for me it was none of those things. Sure it had elements of previously told stories but it definitely can stand up on its own.
When I first started reading book 1, I didn’t know how I would feel about the writing style having just come off a read in a similar journal format but it started to grow on me and I found that the author did a very good job at describing the world through Holly’s eyes.
As for the characters, I actually liked them all. I liked how human the author made them, flaws and all. But I especially liked how the author had them interact with each other.
I am genuinely looking forward to reading the next installment. So much has happened since I was first introduced to Holly and friends that it’s impossible not to be invested in how their story plays out!
About The Author
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Omega by Lizzy Ford Book Review + #Giveaway
Omega
Omega Series
Book # 1
Lizzy Ford
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Release Date: October 25, 2015
Publisher: Captured Press
ISBN: 978-1623782078
ASIN: B0131ZPZUA
Pages: eBook – 317, Paperback – 490
Goodreads Rating: 4.74
My Rating: 5.0
Book Description:
In a modern world ruled by territorial Greek gods, the human race has been oppressed, exploited and now, nearly destroyed by the constant infighting of gods.
However, a human girl with the power of a goddess is coming of age. Alessandra is the Oracle of Delphi – the last prophesized – and bears the mark of the double omega. Soon after she turns eighteen, Alessandra is told her destiny: to step between the warring gods and the human race and save her world from certain ruin.
For the gods, her appearance marks the beginning of the end – their end. They and the Triumvirate – leaders of the human elite – who serve them will stop at nothing to preserve their power.
Alessandra emerges from the forest where she spent her life hidden from gods and men and immediately plummets into a race against time, gods, and herself to discover who and what she is in a world where everyone she meets has a hidden agenda, and those pulling the strings remain in the shadows.
Before she can determine exactly what kind of savior her world needs, she must first master her power by completing three trials devised by the Triumvirate to enslave her.
One lone girl stands between warring gods and the people she’s destined to protect, but it’s the battle to understand who she is that she must win first.
My Take:
Chills.
I love reading, just like you all. Every once in a while you come across a book that reminds you why you fell in love with reading in the first place. A story that takes you on an epic adventure filled with love, friendship, betrayal, growth, discovery and heartbreak. Omega is that book.
I love Lizzy Ford. She writes great books. I own at least one book in every series she’s written. The Omega Beginnings is one of my favorites. I’ve read all 8 and I loved almost every character with the exception of 2. Two characters completely entwined in a way only a father and son could be. Only 1 character redeemed himself. But it seems 2 other beloved characters had to become monsters for him to become great.
I absolutely hated reading how far these characters had fallen in twelve years. I hated reading what monsters they had become. I felt sick. It felt like such a deep betrayal… And that made me love this book even more. It made me feel. I was invested in these characters and their story. I needed to know why they changed. I wanted to slap sense into them.
I loved reading how strong Alessandra had become and seeing that she didn’t lose her attitude. The interactions between her and Adonis made me swoon.
Greek mythology has always been a favorite of mine but this took if to a whole new level. I’m literally teaming with excitement, I need to read Theta, book 2 in the series, and I’m an impatient woman by nature lol so 2016 seems like too long a wait.
The characters in this tale are strong and very independent… both the good and the bad and the women are not only intriguing but very self-sufficient so that most definitely calls out to the tough girl in me.
5 Quills
An epic book with epic characters that I can’t compare to anything I’ve ever read. This is most definitely a series I’ll enjoy exploring.
About The Author
Lizzy Ford is the award winning, internationally acclaimed author of over thirty five books written for young adult, new adult and adult romance readers, to include the internationally bestselling Rhyn Trilogy, Witchling Series and the War of Gods series. Considered a freak of nature by her peers for the ability to write and release a commercial quality novel in under a month, Lizzy has focused on keeping her readers happy by producing brilliant, gritty romances that remind people why true love is a trial worth enduring.
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“I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher for my honest opinion. I was in no
way compensated for this review and all opinions are expressly my own”
Book Blitz: More by T.M. Franklin Excerpt & Giveaway!
Ava Michaels used to think she was special.
As a child, she fantasized about having magical powers . . . making things happen. But Ava grew up and eventually accepted the fact that her childish dreams were just that, and maybe a normal life wasn’t so bad after all.
Now a young college student, Ava meets Caleb Foster, a brilliant and mysterious man who’s supposed to help her pass Physics, but in reality has another mission in mind. What he shows Ava challenges her view of the world, shaking it to its very core.
Because Caleb isn’t quite what he seems. In fact, he’s not entirely human, and he’s not the only one.
Together, the duo faces a threat from an ancient race bound to protect humans, but only after protecting their own secrets—secrets they fear Ava may expose. Fighting to survive, Ava soon learns she’s not actually normal . . . she’s not even just special.
She’s a little bit more.
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Excerpt From More by T.M. Franklin
“Okay,” Ava said. “Now what?”
Caleb pulled out his phone, tapping away on it.
“Wait a second,” Ava said, stilling his hand. “Is it safe to use a cell phone? Can’t it be traced?”
Caleb shook his head. “Not this one.” He glanced up at her. “Do you have one?”
Ava pulled her phone out of her backpack, and Caleb cursed under his breath.
“It’s not on,” she said.
“It doesn’t matter.” He grabbed the phone. “I could take out the battery, but they’d still know this was our last location.” Caleb thought for a moment then grabbed Ava’s hand, turning to walk quickly down the block.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
Caleb pointed to a Greyhound sign across the street. They walked into the small bus station, coming to a stop in front of the departures board. “Wait here,” he said after a moment, glancing around the station before heading out the back door. Ava paced nervously, her eyes darting around, before she took a seat on one of the hard plastic chairs. Caleb returned a few minutes later, motioning for her to join him as he walked back out the front entrance.
“What was that all about?” Ava asked with an irritated wave of her hand.
“Couldn’t risk leaving it here in town, even if we took the battery out,” Caleb said. “We’ve been monitoring your movements for quite some time. It’s good that you turned it off, but even then, it’s not impossible to track. I put it on a bus to New York, just in case.”
“New York?”
Caleb nodded. “It leaves in a few minutes. With any luck, it’ll throw them off the trail. At least long enough for us to get to the safe house.” He looked back down at his phone and pulled out a small piece of paper from his jacket pocket.
“What are you doing?”
“The location is encoded. I just have to figure out . . .” He looked back and forth between the paper and phone for a moment, and Ava leaned in, scanning the strange combination of symbols, letters, and numbers.
She tried to make sense of it, biting her lip as she leaned in a bit closer. Caleb’s breath ruffled the hair at her temple, and Ava stiffened, suddenly very aware of how close they were standing. She swallowed thickly, fighting the urge to jump back like a frightened kitten.
Then—so slightly that she thought she might have imagined it—Caleb’s breath hitched. A prickle of awareness ran along Ava’s skin, her heart thudding heavily in her chest, and she stepped back purposefully, looking away down the street.
What in the world was that?
– MORE, Chapter 9
About the Author
Connect with T.M. Franklin
Entangled Everafter: One Thousand and One Nights Excerpt, Guest Post and Review Link
Sheri spends her days fighting zombies and her nights chained to a wall, earning her every breath by telling stories to her captor Aleksy—stories that make them both forget the ruined world. Sheri could put up with the conditions—at least she knows her sister is safe in the community Aleksy leads—until she realizes she’s falling for him…even though he wants her dead.
Guest Post:
Fairytales, Zombies and Romantic BDSM
Hello, hello. I’m the author of One Thousand and One Nights, soon to be published by the Ever After line of Entangled. I live in South Africa, which is a country, and I write and review fiction while studying law.
1001 Nights adapts and retells the story of Scheherazade, the mythical Persian queen who escaped beheading at the hands of her jilted, homicidal husband Shahryar (in Persian, “king”) by telling him bedtime stories. In his original form, Shahryar inspires about as much empathy as Ted Bundy. Surrounded by man-eating corpses, protecting his own tiny island of the living, Aleksy (in Greek/Polish, “defender of mankind”) was my attempt to salvage the King from his misogynistic past. He hates and fears his Scheherazade, Sheri, because she’s tainted by a zombie-bite, but still human. The feeling of just subsisting from day to day translates well to an updated version: Aleksy tries to keep going in a world that’s betrayed him, and Sheri lives with the constant fear of death and undeath.
I first called it One Thousand and One Corpses, but the publisher wanted more romance, less out-and-out horror. I also gave it a subtitle, Sheri and the King, which probably tells you more about my upbringing on Broadway musicals than you wanted to know. I balance that out with a zombie obsession that gave me chills all the way through Max Brooks’ World War Z. In fact, I’d pay to watch a zombie musical, preferably written and directed by Richard O’Brien. It’d take about twenty years for a decent production to find its way to Cape Town, South Africa, but I’ll fund the Kickstarter campaign and wait.
Doing research for this story was a pleasure. I read the tales of Sinbad, explored the different translations and took a closer look at some traditional fairytales. These stories and their Disney reboots cause me equal amounts of delight and righteous anger. Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, The Little Mermaid: if there’s any message there, it’s that women should be hetero, beautiful and probably silent. Even better, asleep. One of my favourites is Beauty and the Beast, which tells the story of a spoilt daydreamer, imprisoned and blackmailed until she falls in love with her abuser. I’m writing the BDSM version right now. It’s empowering. At least a Belle who reads the Marquis de Sade and dreams about whippings wants everything she gets.
Sure, I’m a feminist. I believe in “the radical notion that women are people”, in the words of Cheris Kramarae. I had some interesting discussions with my editors on this point, especially as regards Sheri and her boundless enthusiasm for sex. I adore the erotica written by Remittance Girl, who takes a similar approach to liberated female sexuality as Greta Christina, a fantastic atheist blogger and sex writer. I wanted my story to reflect these concerns of mine, and I’d welcome any comments on this subject.
Fairytales, zombies, (romantic) BDSM and feminism are themes that run through 1001 Nights. But the story’s also just playful pop fiction that I wrote for fun. I hope you enjoy the reading as much as I enjoyed the writing.
Excerpt:
“He had meant to go straight to the basin to wash, but instead he stood watching the woman sleep. Did she dream? The coppery hair covering her face likely concealed shallow fever-dreams of blood and slaughter, but the arm curled defensively around her head made her seem vulnerable—a captive no older than her teenaged sister. Rays from the sun reached in through the window, and where they touched her skin a blush rose to the surface, pulsing as though kindled from within. Her dressing-gown had fallen open. Aleksy’s eye was held by the way her breasts pushed against the severe under wiring of her bra.
On her, it didn’t look pre-packaged. The charcoal-grey cups matched the high waisted briefs she wore; the cotton bunched a little where one thigh had slipped over the other. Only when her finger twitched and she resettled her head on her arm did he find the self-discipline to shut his eyes and turn away.”
Connect with Author Ruth Browne:
Read my review HERE
Adventures in Ink (Reviews) 