Blur by [a:Steven James|144788|Steven James|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1375198901p2/144788.jpg] is a fast-paced, suspenseful, slightly paranormal crime novel for the young adult readers. Blur begins with the main character Daniel Byers going to the funeral of a not-so-well-known freshman from his high school. Emily was missing for two days when her body was found in a lake and it was ruled an accidental drowning. Daniel believes it, that is until at the funeral Emily talks to him. So begins Daniel's downward spiral into insanity as he tries to uncover the truth behind Emily's death.

So I really enjoyed this book. It's fast-paced and kept me guessing right up to the very end. It centers around Emily's death and the what really happened to her. The author does a wonderful job of giving just enough information that as the reader you think you know what happened. Then another piece of evidence comes along and shocks you and sends you in another direction. I can honestly say that I had no clue what happened to Emily or if she was murdered who did it until the very end when it is revealed. Which if you know me is an amazing feet!

I also liked the characters. Daniel is an atypical high school junior. He's captain of the football team and star quarterback, but he is also extremely intelligent. Something his best friend Kyle likes to test on a regular basis is giving Daniel a complicated math problem and Daniel spits out the correct answer every time while Kyle is plugging it into his calculator. He's like Rainman without the social stigma. So when Daniel starts seeing, hearing, and feeling Emily, he freaks out and rightfully so. I mean he's hallucinating, right? At least that's what he thinks. And probably half of the book deals with him struggling to decide what is real and what is not. He even goes as far as to research what could be wrong with him. It's kinda sad.

Besides Daniel, there's his Dad the sheriff, Kyle his best friend, his spunky girlfriend Mia, Nicole, and the new-girl Stacy Clern. The characters are written so believably. I easily found myself identifying with them on some level, either they reminded me of kids I went to school with or of me, which is awesome! Kyle is the polar opposite of Daniel, yet stands by him even when Daniel thinks he is going nuts. Stacy, Daniel's crush, is mysterious and doesn't really reveal herself until the end.

Overall I highly recommend this book. It has a little bit for everyone, suspense, action, crime, and some paranormal elements, even a little romance. It's geared for the young adult audience and surprisingly despite some mild violence it's a clean read (((happy dance))). So if you enjoy crime mysteries with a bit of paranormal thrown in, I highly recommend you get a copy of this book. It is well-worth the read!

I received a copy of this ebook from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Spearwood Academy Volume 1 by [a:A.S. Oren|7417674|A.S. Oren|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1393750284p2/7417674.jpg] follows the story of a young girl Avalon Clementine who every night since birth turns into a dragon. Abandoned as an infant and raised by a kind farmer, she believes she is a monster and the only one of her kind. Turns out at 15, she isn't the only one and finds herself attending Spearwood Academy, an all boys boarding school. And guess what? The boys all turn to dragons too, but they can control it and turn only parts of themselves and are not forced to change with the moon. So Avalon who was alone, now finds herself in a world of magic and mystery as she tries to discover the truth about her curse.

I really, really liked the characters of this series. Avalon is a jaded 15 year old girl. Too smart for regular school, her adoptive father had to homeschool her. Then with her curse of turning to a dragon every night, she is a loner because no one can know her secret. When she finds out about Spearwood Academy, she's both intrigued and scared to find others like her. Then she's annoyed when she finds out she's the only girl at this all boys school. I found her character funny, mature for her age, and definitely with a big chip on her shoulder. Yet she's also brave in facing this unknown world and quick-witted with the boys who test/tease her.

I fell in love with her gaggle of boys that take up with her on her first day at the academy. Triton, Dante, Amr, and Horace are tasked with showing her the ropes of the school and their characters are diverse and funny! Triton is the first boy to meet Avalon and he is a little snobbish at least to Avalon. Horace is the first-year class president and too refined for her. Dante is a flirt and highly outspoken, he's also the comic relief. Amr is familiar to Avalon though she doesn't know why and she takes an instant liking to him (just a friendship liking). What I truly liked about the characters of this series is that the author doesn't force the relationships, or make any corny romance out of Avalon's friendships with the boys. In fact, she is treated like one of the guys, which bothers Avalon a little, but not enough for her to complain. It's the first time she's ever had friends.

The plot really centers around Avalon discovering more and more about the reason she turns to a dragon and the world of magic it entails. She's given small pieces at a time and winds up more confused with the more information she receives. Lots of action!!!

The world-building is awesome as the detail of the dragons and their magic are slowly revealed. The only dislike I had was there was some repetitiveness, however this volume was originally published in 5 episodes, a month apart. So the things that are repeated are more as a reminder for those of us that were not lucky enough to read them in one volume. The story flows well and is fast-paced, making it a page-turner.

Also I kinda loved the pop culture references!! The author throws in a lot of Harry Potter, Doctor Who, and even some Princess Bride quotes and references that only true fans would get, like the below quote...

Give me Severus Snape, the hot one in my head, or the Eleventh doctor, he would do too; those two are older men that could make me swoon. -Avalon

Overall I highly recommend this series if you are looking for a quick, fun read. It's fast-paced, action packed with some mystery and lots of fantasy. Also it's appropriate for all ages, not just the young adult audience. The author kept it clean with only mild violence. FYI if you do not like cliff hangers, be forewarned, each episode ends in a major cliff hanger!!! So if you enjoy fantasy, short stories, pop culture references and young adult lit, I highly recommend you check out this series. (Episodes 6 & 7 are already out and I read them as well, they are just as good!!)

I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Broken Prince by [a:Jen Wylie|4499919|Jen Wylie|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1291844312p2/4499919.jpg] is book two of the Broken Ones and picks up just a few days after the end of book one. Prince has been revealed as an Elf to his traveling companions by the Dragos, and with that it was also revealed that he is dying. Aro and her newfound family are determined to get Prince home before that happens.

I love the characters of this series. Aro is now sixteen and since the destruction of her home and being taken as a slave, she just keeps getting stronger. The men that have surround her as her family have trained her as her brothers once did, giving her a fighting chance against the magic and evil of the world they find themselves in. They pick up a new character in their family, a were named Garen. I love this new character. He saves Aro from a siege when she is separated from the rest of the men, and it is almost instantly that he begins caring for her (in a protective manner). He makes a fun addition to the group.

Also the story just keeps getting more intricate! First and foremost, the plot for this installment is to get Prince home, to his Elven lands so he can heal and regain his magic, otherwise he will die. Then there's the prophecy about Aro being the returning Queen who will heal the Fey. Aro knows she can take the fury from a Fey because she helps Kei do this, however Kei has asked her to stop because she is changing and can wield the fury once it's hers. Not much is learned about the prophecy in this installment. And the romance in this book....



Aro finally comes to terms with her feelings for Prince, but this book isn't called Broken Prince for no reason. Not only is he dying, but it is painfully obvious his conflicted feelings for Aro. I mean really!!! He risks his life in book one to save her, he's jealous and protective of any man touching her or showing interest in her, and he only smiles when she's around. How hard is it to admit your feelings?!?! Sorry had to vent a little. This particular thread in the story breaks my heart over and over again!

Overall, I loved this book! I think the author kept true to her series and characters, and this installment was better than the first (in my opinion). It was also a clean read with only mild violence, no foul language, and appropriate for age romance. Also blogging communities talk about cross-over reads, or books that span a larger audience than what is intended. This is one of those books! Though it's written for the young adult reader, it can easily be enjoyed by readers of all ages (hey, I'm closing in on thirty and I love it!!!!). So if you enjoy fantasy with an epic adventure, a little romance, and a lot of action/suspense, I highly recommend this book for you. It will not disappoint!

I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Dualed by [a:Elsie Chapman|5441417|Elsie Chapman|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1351817206p2/5441417.jpg] is book one of a new YA dystopian series. Much like The Hunger Games and Divergent, Dualed follows West Grayer, a fifteen year old Idle waiting for her status to go Active. Once active, West will have one month to kill her Alt, a genetic twin raised by another family. The world West lives in is a world that only the strong survive so that the city can be protected at all times.

Be the one, be worthy.

Okay so I'm torn. There were some aspects I really liked about this story and some I really didn't understand and loathed. Let's start with what I liked.

I liked the premise of this story. Every person born in Kersh is born with an Alt, a genetically identical twin, who at some point between the ages of ten and twenty you will be instructed to kill. There is no escaping this. When you become Active, a numerical code tattoos itself on your eyes so everyone knows that you are active. This code acts as a tracker and disappears only when you or your Alt is dead. If you fail to kill your Alt at the end of thirty-one days, you both die. Good incentive to kill right?

Wrong! I thought this was a perfect set-up for the main characters to revolt against the system...but NO!!! Instead during the very beginning, Luc, West's older brother who is still Idle, is killed during a friend's active battle. To me, that just gives more incentive to fight the system, but again no!

West unable to deal with her grief and scared to face her own Alt when the time comes becomes a striker. In other words, she becomes an assassin, killing other Active Alts for money. Granted this is illegal and against the system, but still she's a killer and she doesn't seem to mind it. I found this an irredeemable trait of the main character. I couldn't sympathize or empathize with her struggles at all!

What I really don't understand is how the fact West is a striker is not a part of the synopsis. You know like a warning you're about to read a book about an assassin because she chooses this path early, like the first 30% of the book, so it's not a spoiler.

Yet the synopsis does mention that love is a part of the story, and it is if you consider the main character refusing to acknowledge said feelings for a majority of the book. Chord is the male main character, he also happens to be a lifelong friend of West and Luc. Do you see where this is going? Chord's Alt kills Luc....see the problem now? A genetic twin of someone you love kills your only living family member, how do you look at that person again let alone love them? This made for an interesting twist, but West turning to an assassin kind of negated the twist for me.

If the story could've focused on West's grief and her struggles to overcome it, then I could've liked West. Instead I found myself apathetic if not completely disliking her at times. Her reasoning for becoming a striker and avoiding Chord are understandable yet becoming an assassin to bury the nightmares of your brother dying....I just don't buy it. Don't you think you'll have more nightmares?

Overall I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars because the premise of the story, the action, and the ending set up for a potentially good series. I like dystopian series, and so I will look for and read the rest of this one despite my misgivings. If you like action, YA dystopians, some suspense and a little (and I do mean a very little) romance, I recommend you give this book a shot. And if you do, let me know what you think :)

Rising by [a:Holly Kelly|7202492|Holly Kelly|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1375799864p2/7202492.jpg] is a story about preventing war between Dagonians and humans and finding love in the unlikeliest of places. Xanthus Dimitriou is a Dagonian warrior fascinated with the human world. After thousands of Dagonians are killed from the careless dumping of toxins into the ocean, Xanthus petitions King Triton to allow him to find the culprits and figure out a way to keep the humans from polluting their home. What he doesn't plan on is finding a half-breed (human/Dagonian) on his mission. He also doesn't plan on falling in love with her. Sara Taylor has lived her life in a wheelchair, secluded from all except her best friend and deathly afraid of water. She was born with a deformity that keeps her from showing her true self to anyone. That is until her new landlord shows up and quite literally takes her breath away. But how will she overcome her insecurities and will he stick around once he sees her legs?

This was my first book that I've ever read about mermaids and I loved it! The POV alternated between Sara and Xanthus but it was easy to keep track of. Xanthus is my new book love, though Kryos (more from him in book two of this series) is a big rival. Xanthus is called the Nightmare of the Deep by those who know him. A fierce warrior with a soft spot for humans, Xanthus is loyal to a fault and very much a gentleman. I also loved Sara. Despite being born with a fin instead of legs, she is quite resilient. She speaks her mind, has her own business, and is independent from her mother. She's a testament to what people can achieve when they don't let their defects cripple them.

The plot of this story was simple. Dagonians hate humans, humans don't know they exist. Xanthus's job is to find those responsible for polluting the ocean and killing thousands of his people. He sends the culprits back to King Triton. That part of the story was quick and just a side to what the main story revolved around...the love growing between Xanthus and Sara. I loved the sweetness of their relationship. Xanthus is old-fashioned, Sara is innocent, but that's not all. She's an abomination according to Dagonian law and Xanthus must find away around this.

Overall, I loved every page of this book! In fact I liked it so much that I sat down and read it in one sitting. Then I went and bought book two and read it the next night! Mrs. Kelly knows how to write a good, easy to follow fantasy that keeps your attention. There's just enough action balanced with the romance that I think both genders could enjoy it, though it is more geared towards the women. And even though I know this is probably written for young adults, I enjoyed it immensely! So if you like fantasy, romance, and suspense or you're just looking for an easy read to take you to a new world, I highly recommend you check this book out.

Divided by [a:Elsie Chapman|5441417|Elsie Chapman|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1351817206p2/5441417.jpg] is book two of the Dualed series and picks up a few months after the end of book one. West is now a complete and seems to be moving on with her life. She has a loving relationship with Chord, a good job with Baer, and no one is trying to kill her. When a member of the Board approaches her and threatens all that she now holds dear, West must become a striker again. But at what cost?

I loved this sequel! I so torn reading book one. I felt no empathy for West and at times found myself intensely disliking her. That changes in this book. A member of the Board asks West to become a striker again. She has just three targets, then he promises to do two things for her: remove her striker marks and make sure that any child she has is born without an Alt. How can she pass that up? Being a mother myself, I can tell you I would make the same decision she does. I would accept that job and kill three people, especially if it meant my son would never have to go through the horrors that West has.

And without spoiling anything-because this book needs to experienced first-hand-West finds a way around the Board's request but still completes her task, that is till she reaches the last target. Let's just say the last target is already a complete and someone she recognizes, someone very close to her. At this point in the book, we see a turning point for West's character. Before this last strike, she relied in herself, lying to those she loved and cared for to protect them. Then this last strike makes her do a 180. She confides in not just Chord, but Dire and Baer as well. I thought the showed a strength and defining moment for her.

The plot flowed quickly and I found myself unable to read it fast enough! Between the action and suspense of West being a striker again to her romantic encounters with Chord, the story flew by. There are quite a few answers in this book to questions that I had in the first, like how was Kersh founded, who started the Alt program. So if you've read book one and were like me (on the fence), I really believe that will change once you read this installment.

Overall I really enjoyed this book! It had a little bit of everything I like in a young adult dystopian: a strong heroine/hero, a little romance (basically if there is a chance for Chord and West to kiss they do), lots of action, and some mystery/suspense. FYI though this book isn't as violent as book one, it still contains some pretty gruesome violence especially for a YA book. Other than that it's a pretty clean read. If you like a good YA dystopian, you should really go check this one out for yourself.

I received a copy of this ebook from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

We Are the Goldens by [a:Dana Reinhardt|64085|Dana Reinhardt|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1330329504p2/64085.jpg] is a coming-of-age story about two sisters, Layla and Nell Golden, who are best friends until Layla starts hiding the truth from Nell. Written like a letter to her sister, Nell tells the story of how close they've always been and how when school starts her freshman year Layla begins withdrawing. Nell takes some of the blame as to what her sister is going through, even though she's not at fault.

The love and devotion that is shown through Reinhardt's writing is so honest and real that I had a really hard time not having feelings for Nell and Layla. Nell is fifteen and so excited to be starting her freshman year of high school with her older sister. She looks up to Layla and pretty much all or her decisions are based on what Layla does. Layla is the older sister by just ten months but "she has a good head in her shoulders" is how all the adults describe her. She's the popular girl, the all-star athlete, pride of her parents. She's everything Nell wants to be.

Then the rumors start and Nell is shocked to learn from her sister they are true. This whole story revolves around this truth. Like I said, the story is written as a reflection by Nell, almost like a letter to Layla, an explanation of why she is doing what she does at the end of this book. Nell lies and takes up for Layla, thinking it's the right thing to do, but in her heart she knows it's not. This story's plot is all about Nell leaving her sister's shadow and basically becoming the young adult we all want our children to be.

This book pulled at my emotions. I was nostalgic thinking about my own high school experiences and if I would've been as brave as Nell if put in her situation. I'd like to say yes, but who knows. I laughed, I cried, and fell in love. If you enjoy coming of age, young adult reads I highly recommend you check this book out. It's sweet, loving and heartbreaking, but worth every word.

I received a copy of this ebook from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Moon Dwellers by [a:David Estes|3167424|David Estes|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1359857929p2/3167424.jpg] is book one of a seven book saga about the human race and their fight for survival. Adele Rose and Tristan Nailin come from two very different realities. Adele lives in the Moon Realm, has always known what it is to be poor, and when her parents are convicted of treason is sent to the Pen (a juvenile detention center). Adele's only goal is to escape and find her family. Tristan lives in the Sun Realm, the son of the president he knows only a life a luxury. Fed up with the rules of his father, Tristan with his best friend Roc leave to see if they can make a change.

So I seriously loved this book! The author alternates first person POV between Tristan and Adele giving you a full picture of the world they live in. I'll admit that it was hard to follow for the first few chapters until I got use to the characters but then the story flowed well.

Adele is a wonderful female lead character. She's strong-willed, independent, a fighter, and not afraid to go after what she wants, which in this case is her family. And Tristan....I love Tristan! When I was reading about Tristan, my mind immediately went to Prince William...you know born to rule, everyone knows his face, charismatic persona, yet no one really knows him. Tristan doesn't want his father's life though, and he has this natural self-depreciating humor, he just doesn't take his role in the Tri-Realms seriously. But the two main characters are not the only ones to make up this story. Adele's two friends Cole and Tawni and Tristan's best friend and servant Roc make our main characters' flaws and strengths known. Not to mention the constant banter between Roc and Tristan had me laughing out loud!

This story is well-developed with strong dystopian themes, lots of suspense, a little mystery and an undercurrent of romance. The world-building is subtle yet believable and is explained/revealed as the story unfolds, rather than given to you all at once. I loved this! It was much easier to stay invested in the main plot, which was two-fold. First Adele along with her new friends Tawni and Cole escape the Pen to find her family. And second Tristan who after a chance glimpse of a mysterious Moon Dweller had a strange painful experience decides it's time to leave his father and find this Moon Dweller to discover the reason for the pain.

Overall I highly recommend this book! It was a fast, easy read with an intricate dystopian tale, lots of suspense and action to drive the plot and just a hint of romance. I read this book in just under a day, and I can't wait to start the next one. If you like young adult dystopians, you don't want to miss out on this one!

I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.