Twisted Fate by Norah Olson was an interesting read. I admittedly couldn’t put this one down but it may have been for all the wrong reasons. In my case, this may just be one of those “it’s not you, it’s me” situations because once I finished this book I found myself a bit frustrated.

Sydney and Alyson are sisters and complete opposites. When their neighbor Graham moves in across the street, immediately Sydney sees a something in him that makes her want to spend time with him. At the same time, Alyson is a bit wary. She thinks he is weird and there is something about him that she doesn’t trust.

There is a bit of a mystery in that Alyson is trying to figure out what Graham’s deal is and she enlists the help of her best friend, Declan. As things unfold, the story got a bit convoluted for me. I have to say, that I wasn’t completely surprised by the ending of this book but I still couldn’t really figure it out. There were a lot of POV’s that I thought were unnecessary and ultimately the twist at the end fell a bit flat for me. I also didn’t really get the obsession that Graham had with his videos and what he was really up to.

As I said, perhaps this one just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the review copy.

I officially love Warren.

Maybe Not by Colleen Hoover was a nice little surprise as I honestly had no idea Hoover was planning to write something from Warren’s point of view. I loved Warren in Maybe Someday and everything about this novella made me happy.

This book overlaps a bit with Maybe Someday but is all new because it focuses on Warren and Bridgette. We got a peek into Warren’s personality in the other book but this is full on Warren and I enjoyed every minute of it. From the pranks, to his friendship with Ridge, to how he finally breaks down the walls that Bridgette has put up…It was perfect. I have to admit – I love knowing why Warren was really watching all of that porn. It’s good to know that he had a purpose…other than watching the porn, that is.

I also loved that we got to learn more about Bridgette. In the other book we only get tiny glimpses of her interactions with Ridge and Sydney and I have to admit, I was happy to get more information about how she fits into the puzzle and ultimately ended up living with the guys.

If you enjoyed Maybe Someday I think you will definitely enjoy this. I don’t typically write reviews of novellas – mostly because I find it hard to review a story of this length but I had to share my thoughts. Definitely check this one out when you can!

Cut Me Free by J.R. Johansson was a book that pulled me into the story and made it really hard to put the book down. There is a definite darkness to this story and the main character has suffered through something that is unimaginable but she comes through it with a toughness that helps her survive when she is on her own.

Piper has escaped her abusive parents and now she is trying to live in a world outside of the attic she has lived in for her entire life. In order to do that, Piper needs a new life and she hires Cam to give her a new identity. Now she is Charlotte and she has an apartment and Cam helps her get a job. Just as she begins her new life, Charlotte is pulled back into a situation she thought she would never have to face again.

Something new for Charlotte is the fact that Cam wants to help and be her friend. This is not something she has ever had before and while she doesn’t necessarily trust anyone, she realizes he really is a good guy. I liked Cam and he was a good balance for Charlotte. She (with good reason) had to be very careful and I loved how he slowly broke down the walls she had put up.

As the story moves forward, we know what Charlotte has gone through and we also find out what she has recently done when she sees a girl in the park that has marks that are very similar to those she has suffered. Things start to get dangerous and weird for Charlotte when she starts receiving threatening messages. Now Charlotte has to figure out who is behind the messages and what she is going to do.

I loved the mystery aspect of this story and the way the story unraveled. There is no question, Charlotte is strong but she is stronger with Cam helping her out and when she finally realizes he isn’t really going anywhere, she actually begins to rely on him. In the end she does try to keep him out of the danger but that does backfire on her and Cam refuses to let her handle this problem alone.

I liked the overall story here. It isn’t necessarily a pretty story, but it is about survival and the suspense tied in is believable. As I mentioned, I found myself unable to put this book down because I needed to know what was going to happen next for these characters and who was behind everything. Plus, I was trying to figure how it was all going to come together.

If you like an emotion packed story with a mystery plus some solid characters, definitely check this one out. I was excited to get my hands on a copy and will definitely be checking out other books by Johansson as soon as I can.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy.

A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray combines some of my favorite aspects about books – time travel, history, suspense, and romance. I found that I was unable to put this one down as I traveled through time with Marguerite to chase down the person responsible for her father’s death. Please know, I am going to do what I can to keep this spoiler-free so with that thought in mind, most of this review will center around the world building and the characters.

Marguerite is the daughter of some well-known scientists who have developed the ability to travel to alternate universes. As this ability gets to the wrong people, Marguerite’s world is torn apart. We find out quickly that her father has been killed and the person thought to be responsible is the one person she thought she could trust, Paul. As Theo, one of her parents’ other lab assistants, decides to chase Paul down to get revenge, Marguerite makes the decision to join him.

I loved how Gray layered the science into this story. I don’t pretend to be smart enough to know whether the physics behind this could be real but it is such an interesting theory and the fact that she pulls these characters into situations that create another dimension to the story only made it that more interesting.

Gray develops the relationship between Marguerite and Paul somewhat through flashbacks in Marguerite’s mind as well as the chase through the different universes. I loved the time they spent together in Russia and while I get that afterward, she was confused about who she really was in love with, I wanted Marguerite to get beyond her hang-ups. I can’t say too much here as I don’t want to give anything away but there it is…my opinion.

I also loved the relationship between Theo and Paul. It was great to see as the story progresses, just how close these two were and then the change once Marguerite’s father is killed. I thought Theo was an interesting character and his role in the whole story was somewhat unexpected. Again…don’t hate me but I can’t say much about it. Trust me – you should read all about it, not try to read my explanation for it.

Outside of the character stories, the worlds that Gray created in each of the alternate universes were great. I thought she did a wonderful job of developing each one and then integrating the characters with completely different backgrounds into those worlds.

I also thought that twists that Gray built into this book are what make the story stand out. I admit, I wasn’t expecting everything that happened and I love that. In the end, I think this is what made the book that much better. The expected wasn’t always what happened and how things ended up.

So, there you have it. There isn’t much detail I can give here without giving anything away and you know I hate to do that so I won’t. If you take anything away from this review, know that this book was good! I enjoyed the world building, the action and science were interesting, and there was a bit of swoon. Add to that the pretty, pretty cover and I think you should check this one out when you can.

Thank you to Harper & Edelweiss for the review copy!

What the WHAT!!! OMG that end. I'm pretty sure that Sierra Kincade is slightly evil.

The Distraction by Sierra Kincade is the second book in The Body Works trilogy and if you haven’t started this one yet, you are definitely missing out! It has two great (read: not perfect) characters, some mystery, and a lot of the sexy/swoony stuff. If you haven’t read book one, The Masseuse, stop here because I can’t promise that there won’t be spoilers.

If you recall Alec has been gone for a while and Anna has been anxiously been waiting for him to return. He surprisingly shows up on her (actually his) doorstep and things start to get crazy for Anna. Maxim Stein’s trial is pending and since Alec is a key witness, life for Alec and now Anna is becoming very dangerous.

As Alec and Anna try to stay out of danger, they are also trying to figure out how to have a relationship and that is probably one of the harder things for both of these characters as neither of them has been very successful at making them work. I loved seeing them try to figure it out and although it isn’t perfect, they still try to fight for what they want. I never questioned how much these two cared for each other and I think that is what makes me love them both.

I can’t really say much about what happens in this book – mostly because I don’t want to give anything away. There is definitely a killer ending on this book and I believe that Sierra Kincade might be slightly evil….It’s just a theory but I have evidence.

So read away everyone – this is a great adult series that will have you turning the pages to see what happens next for these characters!

Thank you to Berkley Trade and Netgalley for the review copy!

Extraction by Stephanie Diaz is a book I have had my eye on for a little while. Not only is the cover interesting, the story intrigued me.

Clementine is the main character and she has been preparing for Extraction testing her whole life. As someone who lives on the surface of the planet Kiel, she knows that her only chance to survive is to be one of the kids chosen for extraction. Unfortunately, only ten kids are chosen each year so the odds are tough. As you can probably guess, Clementine is chosen and immediately taken to the Core.

One of the drawbacks to Clementine being chosen is that she is forced to leave Logan, the boy she loves. I really liked his character. They met by chance but they developed this close relationship and it was clear he only wanted what was best for Clementine. Although he was sad to see her go, he knew she would have a better (and longer) life if she were chosen.

I thought Diaz did a great job of creating the world these characters lived in. The descriptions of the different layers (Surface, Crust, Mantle, Lower, and Core) as well as the way things were for the people living on the different layers pulled me right into the story and had me wondering what was really going on. The idea that the moon has a toxic acid that, if Kiel did not have a shield to protect it, would destroy the Surface and the people living there is very interesting.

The children living on the Surface, have grown up with a fear not only of the moon and what could happen to them if they didn’t have the shield, but also of not being chosen for extraction. Not being chosen means they are stuck working the fields and barely surviving. It also means that they may also be forced to procreate to replace themselves. Otherwise, they are only kept around until the age of 20 and then taken away.

As Clem is taken to the Core, she finds out that it isn’t everything she hoped it would be. First, Sam is one of those characters that I hated pretty much as soon as he was introduced. I’m not going to give anything away but he has a black, black soul. As Clementine continues to show him up and prove that brute force isn’t everything (it does pay to use your brain) he sees her as a target and looks for ways to make her life hell.

As the story continues, Clem also finds out that the Developers (really Commander Charlie) are planning to exterminate the people living on the surface….which means Logan is in danger. Commander Charlie is also planning war and hasn’t really told anyone outside of the Army and the Developers.

Along the way, Clem also meets Beechy, who happens to be married to Commander Charlie’s daughter. He also has a pretty big secret. I can’t say what it is as I don’t want to give anything away here but he plays a pretty critical role in this story and I thought he added an interesting layer as I wasn’t really sure where he stood based on who he is.

This was a great introduction to the world that Stephanie Diaz has created. It is filled with action and Diaz has created a fascinating world for these characters. I will definitely be checking out the next book in the series and if you like Science Fiction/Dystopian stories, I recommend you check this one out when you can.

Thank you to Netgalley & St. Martin's Press for the review copy.

Full review to come closer to release.

Although it had been a while since I read book two, I found I was able to get right back into Diana and Matthew's story. While at times I thought the pacing was a bit slow, I really liked seeing things come to a head with Benjamin. There was plenty of action and swoon to keep me turning the pages. On top of that, I really loved the parts that brought everything back to Diana and Matthew's relationship and family.

This was a wonderful end to the series and although I am sad to say goodbye to these characters, I thought Harkness did a wonderful job wrapping everything up. This is one of those series that will sit on my favorites shelf and definitely warrants a re-read.

Thank you to Netgalley & Viking for the review copy.

I enjoyed this book and am curious to see what the next book in the series brings.

Croucher did a great job of grabbing my interest from the very beginning as we are introduced to the main character, Reese, essentially while he is stealing a car. The story is about a teenager who went through a life-saving procedure when he was young and now odd things are happening that he can't explain. I feel like I am over-simplifying this by saying just that, but there are so many other things that come up during the story that if mentioned, would probably give some of the mystery away and everyone who reads my reviews knows I hate to do that.

Reese is a solid character. He is smart but he doesn't take himself too seriously. He seemed to just adapt to his "power" which I found interesting - there was no learning curve but I have to admit, as brief as this novel was, there probably wasn't time to build up to it. Erika was a good character as well. There is a bit of an instant attraction between these two but she doesn't necessarily believe everything Reese tells her..not until she has some proof, which I found completely believable.

There are some definite "bad guys" here and although there are levels of bad, I would consider them all to be quite dangerous to Reese and Erika. Based on where this book left off, I am interested to see what happens next for everyone.

This was a quick and fast-paced story that pulled me into the story. There were some things that seemed to just "happen" and I think that it has the right mix of science and action to keep the reader engaged in the story. Definitely check this out when you can.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the review copy!

Imitation by Heather Hildenbrand is the first book in the Clone Chronicles series and I have to say that once I dove into this story I was hooked! The pacing was great, the characters were interesting, and the story kept me turning the pages to see what was going to happen next.

Ven is a clone of Raven Rogen and has been raised to replace her “authentic” if and when the need ever arises. When the time does come that Ven is called to step into her authentic’s shoes, she realizes that things aren’t really what she thought they would be.

I liked Ven as a character. She is smart and caring but she also sees the big picture and understands that she has a role to play. I loved seeing her character grow – she was always taking those she loves under her wings to help them but now she is faced with doing this on a larger scale while at the same time trying to keep herself out of danger.

Fairly quickly we are introduced to Linc, Raven Rogen’s (now Ven’s) bodyguard and he immediately realizes something is different about Raven. As Ven and Linc spend more time together, they both begin to realize things (and people) aren’t always what they seem. Linc has definitely had some struggles in life but he sees the good in Ven and is willing to do whatever he can to support her and get her out of harm’s way. I loved that he also looked at the bigger picture and although he wasn’t happy about Ven putting herself in danger, he was willing to help her no matter what.

This was a quick and fast-paced read that was filled with action. I was unable to put this one down and definitely thankful that I had book two waiting for me on my Kindle considering once I got to the end of this one, I needed to know what was going to happen next. Definitely check this out!

Thank you to Netgalley and Alloy Entertainment for the review copy!

2.5 Stars

Shatter is the fourth book in the True Believers series by Erin McCarthy and I have to admit, I read hot, tattooed, nerd and I was completely sold. Unfortunately for me, that is about all that won me over with this book.

I’m not sure I can pinpoint any one thing that made me not love this book. Perhaps it was that I found the main character, Kylie, annoying. I don’t know if it was just one thing though. The dialogue wasn’t my favorite and some of the drama/angst felt thrown in just for the sake of it. It is quite possible that I just read this at the wrong time so if you have enjoyed the other books of this series, you may enjoy this one too.

So the story – Kylie hasn’t really been herself since she found out her boyfriend cheated on her with one of her good friends. On top of that, she is failing her chemistry class and as a result, needs to see a tutor…enter Jonathon. The night they meet for a session, Jonathon ends up walking Kylie home and things quickly become heated. They end up having sex and guess what…a few weeks later Kylie finds out she is pregnant. Once she informs Jonathon, he steps up and does what he can to help her out.

I do have to admit that I thought Jonathon was great. He was there for Kylie when she needed him and come on…tattoos, scruff, and glasses – yes please. He wasn’t afraid to say what he felt and he tried to do the right thing. Having a horrible father figure somewhat prompted him to want to give his child a different experience.

As the story moves along, it is clear that Kylie is having a rough pregnancy. Add to that the fact that she is figuring out her relationship with Jonathon and only doing ok in school and she is definitely stressed. Once she starts to figure something out something else happens and Kylie definitely has a rough year here as one thing after the next seems to go wrong. There are a number of things that happen in this story that impact the relationship these two start to build and ultimately, they have to decide if they really should be together.

If you enjoy the New Adult genre and McCarthy’s other books, you may enjoy this one. Again, it is quite probable that I just picked this book up at the wrong time for me and despite some of the things I mentioned, I have to say, this is a fairly quick read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Berkley for the review copy.