REVIEW: Pivot Point by Kasie West

 Pivot Point by Kasie West

4.5 STARS

 

Goodreads Blurb:

Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

Book comes out February 12th, do not forget to add it to your to-read list!
 

My Review:

 
*I received ARC by Gallery Books via Edelweiss in exchange for a honest review*

My Addison:

 

My Trevor:

My Duke:

"When I read, I feel emotion all on my own. Emotion no living person is making me feel. To me, it islmost seems more real, because I know that those characters can't influence me with any power. S I like to remind myself that I can feel without anyone manipulating me...."

Pivot Point is YA paranormal story about people with special mental abilities. Addison with mum as Persuasive (able to persuade other people to do what she wants) and dad as Discenser (a human lie detector), Addison has a talent of her own. She is Searcher which enables her to see outcome and consequences of all alternative decisions she makes. Quite useful right? After unexpected news about her parent's divorce, Addison can decide whether she wants to stay in hidden place among others talented people with her mum or leave to normal  world with her dad. And that is right time to use her ability to decide...

It has been quite long since I read YA book, but with interesting idea behind the story, I  got into it really fast. I was affraid of being confused by story taking two alterating paths based on two choices Addie could make. But fortunatelly it was not the case and instead of 1 story, readers basically get 2. Simultaneously, readers see what would happen if  Addie picks to stay with mum or leave with her dad. And let me tell you, I would not know which path to choose myself if I was in Addie's shoes. Based on her "knowledge", it was very difficutl decision. Not only what kind of life style to choose, but also what guy to be with... Duke or Trevor? Paranormal or Normal?

Pivot Point gives the term "love triangle" completely new and different meaning (if it is even possible to call Addie's choice between 2 guys in alternate universe a love triangle). And while normally I totally despise love triangles, in this case I really liked it and it made whole story very intriguying for me. Duke was popular quarterback in her paranormal hometown. Maybe he was total opposite of Addie but very charming, able to make her laugh. Trevor, on the other hand, was absolutely normal, nice and friendly guy, making feel Addie comfortable in his company. But as story progressed, my (and Addie's) preferences were quite clear and I was leaning towars one specific guy. Which one? You will have to find out yourself.

As far as YA genre goes, Pivot Point was really great book and I enjoyed it a lot. Premise of this book was unique and I am happy to say that it was nicely executed as well. Interesting twists, captivating storyline and great narrator. Recommended to all YA lovers!

REVIEW: Experiment in Terror #2 and #2.5 by Karina Halle

Red Fox by Karina Halle

(Experiment in Terros #2)

5 STARS

Goodreads Blurb:

With Book Two of the Experiment in Terror Series, Perry Palomino and Dex Foray trade in the stormy Oregon coast for the unforgiving deserts of New Mexico.

In the for­got­ten town of Red Fox, a Navajo cou­ple is tor­tured by things unseen and by motives unknown. Wild ani­mals slink through their house in the dark, a bar­rage of stones pound their roof nightly, and muti­lated sheep car­casses are turn­ing up on their prop­erty. Armed with a cam­era and just enough to go on, Perry and Dex travel to the des­o­late locale, hop­ing to film the super­nat­ural occur­rences and add cred­i­bil­ity to their flail­ing web­cast. Only their show has a lot more work­ing against them than just grow­ing pains. Tested by dubi­ous ranch hands, a ghost from Dex’s past, and shapeshift­ing decep­tion, the ama­teur ghost hunters must learn to trust each other in order to fight the most ancient of myths…or die trying.

My Review:

I enjoyed first book in Experiment in Terror series Darkhouse (you can read my review HERE) a lot, but Red Fox was even better. Events in this books were more dangerous but I have to admit that it was less scary for me. However, I enjoyed it nonetheless.

I loved Perry's humour and sarcasm. I loved her thinking and inner thoughts. I loved tension between Perry and Dex. I just love Perry! She is awesome character and I would like to thank author for creating her.

Dex was even more confusing than in first book but I love him even more now. He is such a unique character and I cannot get enough of him. I love his sarcastic side, I love his crazy-without-medication side, I love his protective side, I love his sexy-singing side... I have not been so enthralled by some character in very long time!

Enough of my rambling, just go and read these series yourself!!!

_______________________________________________

The Benson by Karina Halle

(Experiment in Terror #2.5)

5 STARS

Goodreads Blurb:

An Experiment in Terror Novella (#2.5).

This short story/novella sees amateur Youtube ghost-hunters, Perry Palomino and Dex Foray, investigating the real-life hauntings of Portland's infamous Benson Hotel. It occurs between books #2 (Red Fox) and #3 (Dead Sky Morning) and is the perfect primer for anyone interested in the EIT series.

My Review:

Perry and Dex are ghost hunters and these series are hunting ME. Recently, I have been constantly thinking about characters and about what is happenning with them in these books. I like how "relationship" between Perry and Dex is progressing and I love them both more and more with every single word I read about them.

I am not going to write long review. I am just going to say that I love Karina Halle's style of writing and I immediately need more of Dex and Perry so I am on to next book.

And a little warning, Benson is short but soo ghostly scary... It was perfect!

REVIEW: Darkhouse by Karina Halle

Darkhouse by Karina Halle

(Experiment in Terror #1)

5 STARS

Goodreads Blurb:

With all the vampire, werewolf and faerie books out there, it's easy to become numb to all things supernatural. The antidote? Darkhouse introduces two real and unforgettable characters, Perry Palomino & Dex Foray, amateur ghost hunters who are "attractive, relatable and oddly heroic," "flawed but loveable," "slightly crazy" and just the most endearing pair to ever tackle the paranormal...just don't call them normal. Darkhouse is a thrilling and sexy new take on concepts like Supernatural and The X-Files, bringing a breath of fresh air to a genre that has been inundated with the dead.

***Darkhouse and the Experiment in Terror series is a horror/romance for mature audiences only. Readers who are easily offended by harsh language should think twice about reading it.***

THIS BOOK IS RECOMMENDED FOR MATURE READERS AUDIENCES ONLY. HOWEVER, THIS REVIEW ITSELF DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY INAPPROPRIATE MATERIAL.

My Review:

Darkhouse was my first book by Karina Halle and I was pleasantly surprised with her intriguing style of writing. She made me laugh, made me feel scared and created very different, original and interesting characters in this book. I like when authors are able to use the right amount of sarcasm in theirs stories, and Karina Halle definitely knows how to do that. I never watch horror movies but I love reading horror stories. It has been quite a long time since I read some horror so I am very grateful that EIT series were recommended to me by a good friend of mine.

Perry Palomino is "delightfully impulsive" 22-years old woman who grew on me right from the very beginning of this book. She works as a receptionist and even though she is not happy with her job, she knows it is better than having any. The thing I like the most about Perry is the fact that she is funny and remarkable kind of person, always choosing the more crazy and more interesting alternative when given a choice. I really like Perry and she made a perfect narrator for this book.

Dex was also very interesting character. I could not figure him out, there was something mystical about him but I liked it. A lot. Most of the time, he was driving Perry (and me) crazy but I had to like him nonetheless. Both, Perry and Dex, are not ideal or perfect people, they have their flaws but it makes them very likeable characters. Moreover, it was very easy for me to feel connected to them on many levels.

I realize that this book is not for everyone. But if you like realistic characters set in paranormal setting with some horror aspects, go for it. And I am sure you will love it. Experiment in Terror are already my top favourite adult paranormal series so I HIGHLY recommend it!

REVIEW: Painted Faces by L.H Cosway

Painted Faces by L.H Cosway

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

Purchase: Amazon / B&N

 

Goodreads Blurb:

Come forth with an open mind, for an unconventional tale of love... 

Dublin native Freda Wilson considers herself to be an acquired taste. She has a habit of making offensive jokes and speaking her mind too often. She doesn't have the best track record with first impressions, which is why she gets a surprise when her new neighbour Nicholas takes a shine to her.

Nicholas is darkly handsome, funny and magnetic, and Freda feels like her black and white existence is plunged into a rainbow of colour when she's around him. When he walks into a room he lights it up, with his quick wit and charisma. He is a travelling cabaret performer, but Freda doesn't know exactly what that entails until the curtains pull back on his opening night.

She is gob-smacked and entirely intrigued to see him take to the stage in drag. Later on, Nicholas asks her if she would like to become his show assistant. Excited by the idea, she jumps at the chance. Soon she finds herself immersed in a world of wigs, make-up and high heels, surrounded by pretty men and the temptation of falling for her incredibly beautiful employer.

In this story of passion and sexual discovery, Nicholas and Freda will contend with jealousy, emotional highs and lows, and the kind of love that only comes around once in a lifetime.

THIS BOOK IS RECOMMENDED FOR MATURE READERS AUDIENCES ONLY. HOWEVER, THIS REVIEW ITSELF DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY INAPPROPRIATE MATERIAL.

My Freda and Nicholas:

  * 5 BRILLIANT STARS * Review:

Amazing! Brilliant! Perfection! I loved this book, one of the most unique stories ever written. Do not make any excuses, just go and read it!

"I'll have to admit that somewhere in the back of my mind I wanted to be special to him, different from all of the other women who've turned his head. Isn't that what every girl wants? To be loved by someone uniquely, to make a man feel something he hasn't yet felt for anyone else."

Freda is 25 years old cupcake baker who lives with her best friend Nora in apartment in Dublin. One day she meets heir new charismatic ans sexy neighbour, womenizer Nicholas. But after couple of their encounters and finding out what he does for a living, Freda is not sure about Nicholas's orientation. Is he gay? Or does his sexual insinuations mean that he is a straight? But as it seems, being a drag queen, did not influenced Nicholas's fondness for female population at all...

I'm very open-minded person but my life can be pretty traditional sometimes. So I have to admit that this book enthralled me, took me to places I would normally did not go and showed me different perspective of our world. And I seriously LOVED it!

"He would wear her dresses and jewellery and spend hours putting her make-up on his face. In time his habbit would evolve into a need to entertain; a dessire to express his fascination with female form by impersonating it. But for now, it was all about her. The woman who brought him into the world and died before he had the chance to get to know her."

Being in Freda's head and see things to develop from her perspective was amazing. Her inner monologues, snarky remarks and basicly everything about her was great. I really liked her honesty and her thinking made me feel connected to her from the very beginning. She was excellent and totally lovable character. Since whole story is written with Freda being narrator (only prologue and epilogue are from Nicholas's POV), the style of writing reminded me my best friend telling me stories. It was descriptive, funny, sarcastic and full of emotions. I really LOVED it!

And Nicholas? His life story brought more thoughtfulness to this otherwise interesting and funny story. All the good or bad things he had to go through formed him and created one truly amazing person. Together with Freda they have become my new favourite bookish couple and I know for sure that I will be coming back to this story just to  be with them again.

Moreover, I really liked the way author included in this book information about Ireland, Irish people, their culture and traditions. Ireland has a very special place in my heart and I enjoyed this side of novel immensely. Overall, I wanted to highlight the whole book, it was that awesome. Just pure literal perfection. Definitely one of the best books I have ever read! This story is unforgettable. It is so special that it stays with you forever.

REVIEW: The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen

The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden 

(The Coincidence #1) by Jessica Sorensen  

Goodreads Blurb:

There are those who don’t get luck handed to them on a shiny platter, who end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, who don’t get saved. 

Luck was not on Callie’s side the day of her twelfth birthday when everything was stolen from her. After it’s all over, she locks up her feelings and vows never to tell anyone what happened. Six years later her painful past consumes her life and most days it’s a struggle just to breathe.
For as long as Kayden can remember, suffering in silence was the only way to survive life. As long as he did what he was told, everything was okay. One night, after making a terrible mistake, it seems like his life might be over. Luck was on his side, though, when Callie coincidentally is in the right place at the right time and saves him. 

Now he can’t stop thinking about the girl he saw at school, but never really knew. When he ends up at the same college as Callie, he does everything he can to try to get to know her. But Callie is reserved and closed off. The more he tries to be part of her life, the more he realizes Callie might need to be saved. 

My Callie and Kayden:

* 4 STARS *  Review:

"Life is full of luck, like getting dealt a good hand, or simply by being in the right place at the right time. Some people get luck handed to them, a second chance, a save. It can happen heroically, or by a simple coincidence, but there are those who don’t get luck on a shiny platter, who end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, who don’t get saved."

With cut hair and "homeless" clothes, Callie has been school weirdo since 6th grade. But the truth is that she prefers to be unnoticed by others. Callie is self-conscious with dark secret that is constantly on her mind, secret that unables her to live happy and ordinary life. So she just hides from everyone. Until she starts attending college and befriends Seth. With him she feels comfortable and a bit happier because he understands...

This book is written in dual point of view so readers gets alternating Callie's and Kayden's POV. Kayden's life is also very difficult. He is popular and happy on the outside. But he is detached from any feelings to help him survive the life with the secret of his own...

"After that pain is just pain. I can do pain. Thats the easy part of life. Its everything else, hapiness, laughter, love, thats fucking complicated."

This book is about two emotionally broken individuals who are so damaged that they prefer physical pain over emotional one. This book is about physical abuse, about lost willpower to live your life and about coincidence that changes lives and makes people feel truly alive again.

The thing that I liked the most about this book is the fact that it made me think. Think about life and troubles people have to face in their lives. It made me speculate why were characters behaving this or that way. And I love when book is able to do that to me.

I really liked the story and the characters. But overall I did not love it (hence my 4 stars instead of 5). It just lacked some of the charisma for me. Probably because I have read similar books countless times and it did not bring anything overly original. Yes, it was a page turner and thoughtful book but story about two damaged individuals falling in love was here in plenty of variantions before. But do not get me wrong, this book is definitely worht of reading and I would highly recommend it!

“In the existence of our lives, there is a single coincidence that brings us together and for a moment, our hearts beat as one.”

To tell the truth I was hooked right after the prologue. And last 10% left me totally hyperventilating. But with the quite huge cliffhanger at the end, I so cannot wait to read second book The Redemption of Callie and Kayden.

Teaser from book 2 - do not read if you have not read book 1 yet!

REVIEW: Shattered by Elizabeth Lee

Shattered by Elizabeth Lee

  5 STARS

Goodreads Blurb:

Alyssa Boyd had big plans. Big plans that included getting the hell out of the little town she’d grown up in with her two best friends. When she decided it was time to let one of them know her true feelings for him; a change of plans resulted in a tragic turn of events. Now, Alyssa is left alone to find her way out of the darkness that an untimely death has left in its wake.

Jesse Vaughn was never good at letting people in. He’d learned a long time ago that it’s easier that way because people leave, or, unfortunately, die. The one person he wanted to let in doesn’t want him anymore. The only problem is he can’t stop thinking about her. Jesse returns to the childhood home he left behind with one goal in mind… to convince her that they should be together.

When Jesse finds Alyssa she’s not the same girl he left behind. She’s wild, reckless and hell-bent on not giving Jesse a second chance. Lucky for Jesse, his stubborn streak has always been a mile-wide and he’s not about to give up on her.

When your life has been shattered can you really pick up all the pieces and move on?

 

My Review:

My Alyssa and Jesse:

"What started out as wishful thinking, angel given signs from above, was now just an imprisoned lot of dirty, broken pieces that used to belong to beautifully glistening wholes. Just like I used to."

Alyssa's life changed completely and her dreams were gone on a day when one of her best friends died in a car accident, followed by her other best friend, Jesse, leaving her to grieve on her own. All the emotional pain she had to go through lead her into depression and she gave up on her life. But things are never black or white. Jesse had his own reasons why he left the town after his best friend's funeral. And now he is back, trying to manage impossible - get back into Alyssa's life and fight for her love...

OMG, this story was one huge emotional rollercoaster full of drama and heart-break. Shattered is book about cruel reality of life, misunderstandings between people and finding power to live your life even when you feel completely broken. Jesse was a sweet farm boy with stubborn character and I really liked him from the very beginning. Alysse was a drama queen and even though she frustrated me with her over-reacting, it was painful to read about how she changed from energetic girl to walking zombie.

There were 2 features of writing style that I really liked about this boook. #1 Dual point of view - I like to see perspective of both main characters and see what exactly they are thinking. #2 Past/Present moments - It is always interesting to have story set in present with occassional glimpses to past and to have gradually revealed what had happened.

Shattered is the book that cannot be rushed. Even though there were parts that really broken my heart, overall I enjoyed reading it.

REVIEW: Anathema by K.A. Tucker

Anathema by K.A. Tucker

5 STARS

Goodreads Blurb:

Evangeline has spent her teenage years in obscurity. Her foster parents have the emotional aptitude of robots and her classmates barely acknowledge her existence. About to turn eighteen and feeling like a social pariah, she is desperate to connect with someone. Anyone.

When Evangeline meets Sophie after literally stumbling upon her café, she believes she’s found that connection. Willing to do anything to keep it, she accepts a job as Sofie’s assistant and drops everything to fly to Manhattan, where she is thrust into a luxurious world of Prada, diamonds, and limitless cash.

With such generosity and kindness, it’s easy for Evangeline to dismiss certain oddities... like Sofie’s erratic and sometimes violent behavior, and the monstrous guard dogs. She’s even willing to dismiss her vivid dreams of mob-style murders, beautiful homeless people living in caves, and white-eyed demons that haunt her each night as figments of her imagination—especially when one of those figments is the gorgeous Caden. When she wakes up with bite marks on her neck, the fairy tale quickly turns into a nightmare. She slowly unravels the mystery surrounding Sofie and friends, and the reality of the bites and the “dreams.” What she discovers is far more mysterious and terrible than anything she could have imagined.

In a world where everyone has motive to lie for personal gain, Evangeline must decide which deception is least likely to get her killed.

   

FREE AT:  
   

 

My Review:

My Evangeline and Caden:

“There are two kinds of spells.
Little, easy spells that you can learn and do anytime, anywhere—start fires, disguise yourself, that kind of stuff. But then there are other spells, where you’re directly altering fate—life and death. That’s a Causal Enchantment spell.”

Evangeline is selfless, caring, diligent almost 18-years old girl who is always trying to help others. But after death of her mom five years ago, noone really paid attention to her. Until she meets Sofia, interesting and sophisticated woman who offers Evangeline a deal that is impossible to decline. And that is when all suspicious and crazy stuff begins...

Anathema is not your traditional YA paranormal novel. To be honest, I have never read anything like this. There was mix of everything - paranormal, magic, dystopian, suspence, action and romance. Paranormal world that author created in this book was like one beautiful but dangerous fairy tale. Everythings was so unbelievably fascinating that I devoured it in very short time. All lovers of paranormal genre should definitely read it.

At the beginnig, Evangeline was shy, unexperienced, too trusting but it never bothered me and I got to like her and her lovely personality. And Caden? He was dreamy... loving, caring, passionate but always underestimating himself. I loved the parts when he was present in the book the most and his interactions with Evangeline made this story perfect for me.

Anathema was full of unexpected twists and author kept me in tension all the time. Almost till the very end I was not sure who to trust and who not. And last couple of chapters? They blew my mind and I cannot wait to read next instalment in series.

REVIEW: Ten Tiny Breaths by K. A. Tucker

Ten Tiny Breaths by K. A. Tucker

 5 STARS

Goodreads Blurb:

Kacey Cleary’s whole life imploded four years ago in a drunk-driving accident. Now she’s working hard to bury the pieces left behind—all but one. Her little sister, Livie. Kacey can swallow the constant disapproval from her born-again aunt Darla over her self-destructive lifestyle; she can stop herself from going kick-boxer crazy on Uncle Raymond when he loses the girls’ college funds at a blackjack table. She just needs to keep it together until Livie is no longer a minor, and then they can get the hell out of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

But when Uncle Raymond slides into bed next to Livie one night, Kacey decides it’s time to run. Armed with two bus tickets and dreams of living near the coast, Kacey and Livie start their new lives in a Miami apartment complex, complete with a grumpy landlord, a pervert upstairs, and a neighbor with a stage name perfectly matched to her chosen “profession.” But Kacey’s not worried. She can handle all of them. What she can’t handle is Trent Emerson in apartment 1D.

Kacey doesn’t want to feel. She doesn’t. It’s safer that way. For everyone. But sexy Trent finds a way into her numb heart, reigniting her ability to love again. She starts to believe that maybe she can leave the past where it belongs and start over. Maybe she’s not beyond repair.

But Kacey isn’t the only one who’s broken. Seemingly perfect Trent has an unforgiveable past of his own; one that, when discovered, will shatter Kacey’s newly constructed life and send her back into suffocating darkness.

THIS BOOK IS RECOMMENDED FOR MATURE READERS AUDIENCES ONLY. HOWEVER, THIS REVIEW ITSELF DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY INAPPROPRIATE MATERIAL.

 

My review:

My Kacey and Trent:

"The blue floors, the rusty old machines, the walls, everything around me vanishes under the weight if his gaze as it strips me of my protective bitch coat, yanking it clean off my body, levaing me bare and vulnerable in second."

After tragical death of Kacey's dearest ones and after her younger sister was almost molested by their uncle, Kacey decides to act as Livie's guardian and run away with her to Miami to start over again. But after everything Kacey had to go through, she is different person, bitter, full of pain, almost like a living shell, keeping her distance from everyone. Until she meets her new neighbour, good looking and charming Trent, who knows exactly how to get through that protective wall of hers...

Ten Tiny Breaths is one of those stories that after reading blurb you think you know exactly what it is going to be about but once you start reading you do not have an idea what hit you. This book is perfect, unique and definitely one of the most interesting contemporary novels I have read this year. It was my first book by K. A. Tucker and I really liked the "voice" of this story and style of writing in general.

Ten Tiny Breaths is book about ways of dealing with death of close person and overcoming the trauma. Everyone deals with pain and sorrow differently. Some people need to open up, someone needs a time and some people think they are lost forever in their hatrage and bitchiness. The last mentioned is the case of 20 years old Kacey, the narrator of this book. Kacey was very interesting character, I could feel her pain and understood her decisions even though I did not always agree with her.

Ten Tiny Breaths is about Trent, main male character who got my full attention from the very fist moment he appeared in this story. He was charming, playful, nice and attractive in every possible way. BUT (there is always but right?) he had his own issues and secrets.

Ten Tiny Breaths is about forgiveness- about letting anger go and letting forgiveness to heal you when you feel broken.

Ten Tiny Breaths is about strong passion and desire between two young people who never expected to find happiness again.

Ten Tiny Breaths is about...life is short so just read this book yourself and find out. It is so worth it!!! 

"Just breathe," my mom would say. "Ten tiny breaths ... Seize them. Feel them. Love them."