samantha_randolph's Reviews (1.59k)

"Grace is far from the diplomat her grandfather is. When she is sent to live with him, an ambassador, at Embassy Row, she knows trouble is sure to find her. Trouble certainly does, and does something she didn't see coming: the man she believes she saw murder her mother three years ago. Now on a mission to take him down, she faces friends and family who don't believe her as she balances on eggshells trying not to unbalance the fragile international relations around her." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=50071

DNF Thoughts/Review
*I received a free copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review*
Allie Granderson is still heartbroken over her mother's mysterious disappearance. Nothing has been the same since she left, especially Allie's father. When part of her family's nativity scene is taken, Allie wants to find where it went. The compass she keeps in memory of her mother starts moving, and Allie and her friend, Zach, decide to follow where it takes them.

I really wanted to like this book. I love adult fiction that has a younger character as the protagonist. However, I didn't feel that Allie was a 12 year old at all. Most of the time she felt 8 or 9. Some issues felt really unrealistic, like the circumstances surrounding her getting her first period.

While I appreciated the Southern culture (being from the South myself), some parts seemed to be really stereotyped and cliched. I think I just disconnected with the book in a major way because of this and Allie, even though the premise sounded cool.

I did like how real the author made the family situation feel. When a family is somehow gone (through disappearance, death, etc.), that has a big impact. The family dynamic is immediately shifted, and it usually leaves the members feeling uncertain/lost/hurt/etc. Allie and her dad are definitely a good example of how broken a family feels when part of the family is gone.

Overall, I just didn't connect with this. I didn't like how certain aspects were portrayed, and it was getting too hard to push myself to keep reading. I'm sure this book would be great for a different reader, but it ultimately didn't work for me.

"Charlie is very good at math and science. He's so good that he realistically dreams of MIT and has modeled his future around that plan. He isn't good at girls, however. When he sees a girl with an interesting neck tattoo at a donut shop, he isn't at all prepared for the crazy emotional and utterly illogical road he is about to embark on. The girl, Charlotte, isn't exactly looking for love either, just a strong dose of normalcy that being sick so often rejects. Together, the two stand to learn a lot about life and love if they can just get on the same page." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=50348

"Herk has always wanted stronger legs. His family of Nnewts seem to walk around just fine, but he is stuck staying in the water with his weak legs. When his village is attacked, Herk is separated from his family. He must learn to stand on his own two legs (metaphorically) while his physical ones still won't work well in the face of dangerous enemies, a mysterious past, and evil abound." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=50346

Short and Sweet:
I really enjoyed this fantasy/action story! The romance was super sweet, and I loved the idea of the weaving.
To Elaborate...
What Nels wants more than anything is to be a knight, but his mother keeps him far away from the festival every year where potential future knights are selected. When Nels decides to sneak out and go, he is plunged into a world of secrets and mysteries that he never knew existed. When he is murdered, the Princess Tyra is the only one who can see him...and the only one who can help him. Together, the work to restore something bigger than Nels' death.

I spent so long trying to read this. I hate having large gaps between readings, because I end up losing some of the emotional height and suspenseful buildups.Sadly, I was super busy the last few weeks, so I could only read this periodically. I really enjoyed all the chances I did get to sit down with it though, because I love the two main characters, Nel and Tyra. Both are so complex, and I love the slow romance that builds between them.

I also really love the premise of the story. I wish some of it had been more detailed, but the concept of everyone having a thread and being able to weave it or sew it to something is really interesting. I liked how he mystery kept building as the characters were plunged deeper and deeper into the hidden world.

Overall, this is a great read for fantasy lovers. While I wish some parts had been elaborated a little, I fell so hard for these characters and enjoyed discovering more about them as their journey unfolded. Definitely recommend this one!

Originally posted at I Heart YA Fiction: http://iheartyafiction.blogspot.com/2015/02/review-woven-by-michael-jensen-and.html

3.5 rounded up
"After Imogen Rockford loses her family at 10, she wants to put her past behind her and stay in America with her guardians and best friend, even though she can't seem to forget the strangeness that happened that day or her childhood crush, Sebastian. Seven years later, Imogen is informed that she is the new duchess at the estate in England where she last saw her parents. Forced to return, Imogen has to confront the mysteries of the day she lost her family, a secret family legacy, and the boy she could never get off her mind." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=50536