Take a photo of a barcode or cover
samantha_randolph's Reviews (1.59k)
"Sand isn't sure how he ended up waking up in the forgotten castle hidden behind thorns. When he sees the thorns won't let him leave, he does the only thing he can think of and starts repairing all the broken parts of the castle. When he finds the long lost heiress, Perrotte, awakened after many years of sleep, they must work together to find a way to heal the kingdom." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=45277
Short and Sweet:
DAMN IT DAMN IT DAMN IT
To Elaborate...
So this book gave me feels. Feels I have never felt before (at least to this extent). I have never read something that has made me so ANGRY. Sick-to-my-stomach, want-to-throw-my-phone-across-the room-ANGRY. (I was reading on my Kindle app.) Sidenote: NOT angry at the book, because the book is BEAUTIFUL. What made me so FREAKING ANGRY is how accurate this book is. It realistically and incredibly shows the injustice that occurs when someone dares (literally) to do something out of the ordinary that others think they are incapable of, undeserving of trying, etc, particularly when that someone is a woman. The boys, who are constantly attacking her and trying to get her to quit, may be fictional, but knowing that there are people out there exactly like them made me want to punch something. I am so, so, so glad that this author wrote this book and has created a story full of so much strength, bravery, and fierceness that it made me want to cry, scream, and yell right along with Mac (aka Samantha McKenna who totally shares my first name and that's cool). The story covers something that NEEDS to be discussed and desperately needs to change.
*deep breath*
So okay, other parts of the book super rocked as well, but did not set my feminism on fire. The family and friendship relationships are so well done. They are complex and changing and real. There was one character I was begging not to be a bad person, so I literally whooped out loud when the character stayed true. This was a very vocal book for me. It also taught me a lot about the military which is pretty cool, because I really don't know much about it.
The final knife to my feels came in the ending. If it wasn't so appropriate and so damn understandable, it wouldn't have hurt so much. I DESPERATELY wanted a certain part to be different, but it was not to be. I GET it, but it still hurts. I might have even been upset if I had gotten what I wanted because it wouldn't have been as realistic, but damn the feels. My feels will be recovering from this one for a long time.
Originally posted at I Heart YA Fiction: http://iheartyafiction.blogspot.com/2014/08/review-rites-of-passage.html
DAMN IT DAMN IT DAMN IT
To Elaborate...
So this book gave me feels. Feels I have never felt before (at least to this extent). I have never read something that has made me so ANGRY. Sick-to-my-stomach, want-to-throw-my-phone-across-the room-ANGRY. (I was reading on my Kindle app.) Sidenote: NOT angry at the book, because the book is BEAUTIFUL. What made me so FREAKING ANGRY is how accurate this book is. It realistically and incredibly shows the injustice that occurs when someone dares (literally) to do something out of the ordinary that others think they are incapable of, undeserving of trying, etc, particularly when that someone is a woman. The boys, who are constantly attacking her and trying to get her to quit, may be fictional, but knowing that there are people out there exactly like them made me want to punch something. I am so, so, so glad that this author wrote this book and has created a story full of so much strength, bravery, and fierceness that it made me want to cry, scream, and yell right along with Mac (aka Samantha McKenna who totally shares my first name and that's cool). The story covers something that NEEDS to be discussed and desperately needs to change.
*deep breath*
So okay, other parts of the book super rocked as well, but did not set my feminism on fire. The family and friendship relationships are so well done. They are complex and changing and real. There was one character I was begging not to be a bad person, so I literally whooped out loud when the character stayed true. This was a very vocal book for me. It also taught me a lot about the military which is pretty cool, because I really don't know much about it.
The final knife to my feels came in the ending. If it wasn't so appropriate and so damn understandable, it wouldn't have hurt so much. I DESPERATELY wanted a certain part to be different, but it was not to be. I GET it, but it still hurts. I might have even been upset if I had gotten what I wanted because it wouldn't have been as realistic, but damn the feels. My feels will be recovering from this one for a long time.
Originally posted at I Heart YA Fiction: http://iheartyafiction.blogspot.com/2014/08/review-rites-of-passage.html
2.5/5 stars
"Shiloh is just another Terminal living in The Haven, a place that helps all Terminals stay healthy and disease free. The only difference about her is that she can remember things no one else seems to, like the people who get taken away and a surgery she went through. With Gideon's, another Terminal, help and a few other friends, Shiloh slowly starts to see that maybe everything Haven is telling them is a lie, and if it is, they need to escape and soon." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=45458
"Shiloh is just another Terminal living in The Haven, a place that helps all Terminals stay healthy and disease free. The only difference about her is that she can remember things no one else seems to, like the people who get taken away and a surgery she went through. With Gideon's, another Terminal, help and a few other friends, Shiloh slowly starts to see that maybe everything Haven is telling them is a lie, and if it is, they need to escape and soon." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=45458
"When the rain starts coming down, Sebah's world floods quickly and swiftly, taking her family away from her. She survives at first by taking shelter in a tree, though with all the lightning, she knows that can't last. After a raft takes her to a huge ark, Noah's ark, she hides below deck with the animals hoping to survive the rain. Being alone with dangerous animals is one thing, but as tensions rise with Noah's family, Sebah will have to be careful to wait out the flood." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=45459
While my heart is broken that this series is over, I couldn't have imagined a better or more fitting ending. Loose ends are all tied up, and I just want to hug this whole trilogy.
To Elaborate...
*WARNING: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IF YOU HAVE NOT READ DEFIANCE AND DECEPTION.
I haven't spoiled anything in Deliverance though*
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Separated, Logan and Rachel are doing all they can to get back to each other and put an end to the chaos around them once and for all. In order to do so, they will have to make allies of previous enemies and fight through more pain than they ever imagined they could take. It all leads up to the final battle between them and the man who has tried to kill them from the beginning.
As I have read this series, I have fallen more and more in love with the characters and the world with each book. Deliverance, the (sadly) final book is no exception. Logan and Rachel, now physically separated, have to come face to face with what's eating them up inside once and for all. Rachel has to face the actions she made in Defiance, and Logan has to accept his origins, and damn if their growth isn't one of the most beautifully developed things I've read. There are so many good quotes about dealing with pain, love, and loss that had me a little teary several times.
What really sums up this final book is strength. Strength of character, literally and metaphorically, strength of will and determination and loyalty, and strength that comes from letting yourself heal and love are all prominent themes going on during all of the fantastic action. The climax is definitely where the most intense action is, but it kept up a steady and solid pace building up to that. I ended up reading all of it in one night because I HAD to find out what happened.
I won't say much about the ending, because I don't want to spoil anything, but I thought it was just beautiful. All of my questions were answered, and I understand why everything had to happen the way it did.
5 Hearts!! Originally posted at I Heart YA Fiction: http://iheartyafiction.blogspot.com/2014/08/review-deliverance-by-cj-redwine.html
To Elaborate...
*WARNING: THERE MAY BE SPOILERS IF YOU HAVE NOT READ DEFIANCE AND DECEPTION.
I haven't spoiled anything in Deliverance though*
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Separated, Logan and Rachel are doing all they can to get back to each other and put an end to the chaos around them once and for all. In order to do so, they will have to make allies of previous enemies and fight through more pain than they ever imagined they could take. It all leads up to the final battle between them and the man who has tried to kill them from the beginning.
As I have read this series, I have fallen more and more in love with the characters and the world with each book. Deliverance, the (sadly) final book is no exception. Logan and Rachel, now physically separated, have to come face to face with what's eating them up inside once and for all. Rachel has to face the actions she made in Defiance, and Logan has to accept his origins, and damn if their growth isn't one of the most beautifully developed things I've read. There are so many good quotes about dealing with pain, love, and loss that had me a little teary several times.
What really sums up this final book is strength. Strength of character, literally and metaphorically, strength of will and determination and loyalty, and strength that comes from letting yourself heal and love are all prominent themes going on during all of the fantastic action. The climax is definitely where the most intense action is, but it kept up a steady and solid pace building up to that. I ended up reading all of it in one night because I HAD to find out what happened.
I won't say much about the ending, because I don't want to spoil anything, but I thought it was just beautiful. All of my questions were answered, and I understand why everything had to happen the way it did.
5 Hearts!! Originally posted at I Heart YA Fiction: http://iheartyafiction.blogspot.com/2014/08/review-deliverance-by-cj-redwine.html
Short and Sweet:
As high as the stakes were in Defiance, the second installment, Deception, doubles them and repeatedly punches you in the gut with emotion and leaves you feeling dizzy from all the action. Naturally, I loved it. :)
To Elaborate...
*I've tried to keep this as spoiler free of Defiance as possible, but I would still be cautious and go ahead and read Defiance just in case* ;)
Rachel and Logan are facing yet another battle trying to keep the people of their home safe. While prejudices still thrive among some of them, it seems a concern worse than stereotyping may threaten their group. As strains are put on trust, Logan's job is made harder and Rachel burrows further and further into herself and her grief. In order to take down the growing dangers around them, Rachel and Logan will have to find as much strength as they can to save each other and those they love.
When it comes to second books in trilogies, I get a little nervous. Typically, they seem to be the ones with the most angst, and sometimes it goes overboard and just makes me depressed. Deception, though it definitely has its (necessary) angst, doesn't go overboard with it. Emotions are so high among all the characters, because they all have seen loss and are being constantly faced with it again. Rachel especially struggles to communicate through her own grief. Even so, there is so much hope and strong will built into the story that it makes you fully believe in the characters and their power to overcome their obstacles (on the inside anyway). The way so many of them, particularly Rachel, learn to fight again is just beautiful.
I also love that this book didn't bring in a love triangle (as I've seen several second books do). Yes, there is a case of jealousy here and there, but it's so small and seldom. Rachel and Logan definitely have issues they must face in this, but they have such a solid foundation of loyalty to each other that is so refreshing. They also get some super swoony scenes that made me so happy. My ship for them is bigger than the Titanic (and definitely not as fragile).
Overall, I am still so in love with this series. If you like action and romance, this is a wonderful series to get into!
Originally posted at I Heart YA Fiction: http://iheartyafiction.blogspot.com/2014/08/throwback-thursday-review-deception-by.html
As high as the stakes were in Defiance, the second installment, Deception, doubles them and repeatedly punches you in the gut with emotion and leaves you feeling dizzy from all the action. Naturally, I loved it. :)
To Elaborate...
*I've tried to keep this as spoiler free of Defiance as possible, but I would still be cautious and go ahead and read Defiance just in case* ;)
Rachel and Logan are facing yet another battle trying to keep the people of their home safe. While prejudices still thrive among some of them, it seems a concern worse than stereotyping may threaten their group. As strains are put on trust, Logan's job is made harder and Rachel burrows further and further into herself and her grief. In order to take down the growing dangers around them, Rachel and Logan will have to find as much strength as they can to save each other and those they love.
When it comes to second books in trilogies, I get a little nervous. Typically, they seem to be the ones with the most angst, and sometimes it goes overboard and just makes me depressed. Deception, though it definitely has its (necessary) angst, doesn't go overboard with it. Emotions are so high among all the characters, because they all have seen loss and are being constantly faced with it again. Rachel especially struggles to communicate through her own grief. Even so, there is so much hope and strong will built into the story that it makes you fully believe in the characters and their power to overcome their obstacles (on the inside anyway). The way so many of them, particularly Rachel, learn to fight again is just beautiful.
I also love that this book didn't bring in a love triangle (as I've seen several second books do). Yes, there is a case of jealousy here and there, but it's so small and seldom. Rachel and Logan definitely have issues they must face in this, but they have such a solid foundation of loyalty to each other that is so refreshing. They also get some super swoony scenes that made me so happy. My ship for them is bigger than the Titanic (and definitely not as fragile).
Overall, I am still so in love with this series. If you like action and romance, this is a wonderful series to get into!
Originally posted at I Heart YA Fiction: http://iheartyafiction.blogspot.com/2014/08/throwback-thursday-review-deception-by.html
"Sophia loves watching her emotional, but somehow distant mother, Naomi, sing at the Blue Angel. For years, Naomi has dreamed of fame and a chance to make something of herself in spite of all life's hardships. Together, they must deal with their relationship as it grows in both strength and despair while they battle the stress of a not-so-glamourous life." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=45589
"Newly teen Vanja is lost when her mother passes away. Left confused and uncertain, she decides to leave her home in Rio de Janeiro to stay with her mother's ex-husband in Colorado. With his help, her goal is to track down her biological father. During her search, the histories of the people around her unfold, and a bigger picture of politics and intersecting lives is presented." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=45594
"Nearly "Leigh" Broswell checks the newspaper personal ads every week searching for some sign of her runaway father. Eventually, she starts noticing mysterious messages that seem aimed right at her. When she tries to figure out the clues, they follow her through a string of deaths of people who have one thing in common...her. Suddenly, she is being framed for murder, and she has no clue who's behind it. The only clear thing is that whoever it is wants her gone and punished." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=45559
