In My Mailbox is hosted by the Story Siren. Make sure to stop by her blog every Sunday to see the links of all the blogs participating in this weekly MEME.
I have some fun books in my mailbox this week that I am excited to share with you.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source: LibraryThing Member Giveaway
Genre: Paranormal YA
Description from Goodreads:One summer night in the town of Hell, Ariel Donovan's best friend goes missing. Everyone else believes Jenna ran away, but Ariel thinks something more sinister may have happened. She dreams of Jenna running to the abandoned orphanage in town, and then the building catching on fire. What does the orphanage have to do with Jenna's disappearance? To complicate matters, a handsome new boy named Henry Rhodes has arrived in town, plaguing her with unwarranted attention. Even though she tries to stay away, she's drawn to him despite her best efforts, and can't help giving in to her attraction to him. Though he doesn't believe in the supernatural events that Ariel begins to witness, she enlists his help to figure out what is going on.
But when she discovers the truth, it's much worse than she ever feared. My thoughts:Abigail Boyd has an excellent debut novel.
Ariel is having a difficult time. Her best friend left her home one evening and hasn't returned. She has withdrawn from everyone and is beginning her Sophomore year alone. The town that she lives in is named "Hell". I think it pretty much sums up what she is going through.
To make matters worse, she starts hearing strange thumping sounds and she is having vivid dreams of Jenna. A new boy moves into the area and he is way out of her league, but he is still interesting and cute. Her new next door neighbor begins to spy on her. To top it off, she starts to see ghosts.
This is the set up for the novel. There is a mystery involved that has a surprise ending. I am definitely looking forward to the second book.
Genre: Dystopian/ Paranormal My rating: 4 of 5 stars Source: Received from Linda Hawley to review
Description from Goodreads:It’s the near future, and society is government controlled. Technology tracks everyone, and personal privacy does not exist. The hope for freedom lies in the operations of an underground organization, GOG, which fights against worldwide oppression. Their most powerful weapon is Ann Torgeson, a paranormally-gifted operative. When her powers release the seal of The Prophecies, she becomes a weapon against the government, which relentlessly pursues her. Question everything is the theme of Dreams Unleashed.
My thoughts: I am very happy that Linda asked me to read the Second Edition of Dreams Unleashed. I found it to be clever and well written. She is able to write with enough description and definition to hold the interest of her reader.
Ann is a complex woman. She has had many unique and interesting experiences throughout her life to make her the perfect freedom fighter. She is fighting against Governments who have systematically taken away or limited the basic rights of their citizens. She was trained by the CIA to use her psychic abilities to spy on targets given to her. In the year 2015, she takes this ability and training and is able to figure a new way to help her undercover group (GOG) take action.
The story is told in the first person. Ann has an interesting way about her. She is a mother of a daughter who is 18 and a widow. She is alone in her home and able to move around freely. She has a strong sense of right and wrong and is determined to make a difference. She has a power in the dream state that is pretty incredible.
This story is creative and interesting. I will make you think. While technically this is considered an adult story, it is appropriate for anyone interested in a good story.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars Genre: Paranormal/Dystopian Source: Received from Linda Hawley to review
Description from Goodreads: It’s the near future, and society is government controlled. Technology tracks everyone, personal privacy does not exist, and even food supplies are being monitored. The hope for freedom lies in the operations of an underground organization, GOG, which fights against worldwide oppression. Their most powerful weapon is Ann Torgeson, a paranormally-gifted operative, who unseals The Prophecies with her powers. With the government doggedly pursuing her, she goes underground, fleeing the Pacific Northwest, but not before leaving three murders, one suicide, and an explosion behind her. Will she and her companions survive to change the world after everything twists and turns upside down?
My thoughts: The first book in the series is really a set up novel. The second book takes you more into the action and the illumination of many of the things that were hinted at in the first.
Ann is underground. Her life began to unravel in Washington State, and her situation was compromised. Word about her and her abilities was put into the hands of the wrong people. Her family and friends were put in precarious positions. One thread they all have in common is that they vowed to protect Ann at all costs.
Ann's paranormal abilities are growing. She is now able to use them in ways that she did not believe possible. As her abilities increased, the net around her begins to tighten. Those tightening it are her friends willing to protect her and her enemies trying to cut her off.
This book has some intense moments. Ann is learning who is friend and who is foe. I highly recommend the second book in the series, but to read it, you must read the first to grasp the intricate plot that Linda has created.
Once again, she leaves us on a cliffhanger. Dang! She has however guaranteed that I will be reading the next installment. Once again, Linda has created a novel that is appropriate for readers of any age.
Watch the Trailer:
Giveaway:
Linda is generously offering 10 eBook copies of the Second Edition of Dreams Unleashed. She is planning on personalizing them through Kindlegraph. How awesome is that? Click on READ MORE to see the Rafflecopter form. This contest will run until November 18th. There will be 10 winners selected.
Sorry to everyone who visited before the Rafflecopter was operational. I have fixed it. I will add everyone who left a comment before it was fixed into the contest.
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars Source: Netgalley Genre: Historical Romance Publication Date: December 6, 2011
Description from Goodreads:After five long years, Georgiana McLaughlin returns to the only place she’s ever considered home—the same place she stole a kiss from Ridge Carson under the community “kissing tree.” But this time he’s a man, and reconciling their past is just the beginning. You’ll find yourself applauding each new chapter filled with fun, romance, and adventure in this captivating, heartfelt tale of love, friendship, and finding your way back.
My thoughts: I really love a good romance story. A story that reminds me what it was like to fall in love. The tingles that you get when you first hold a hand and the anxiety in whether or not he really loves you. A good romance story leaves you smiling when you close the book and gives you hope for a happily ever after. This book meets all of that criteria. It is not just a good, but a great romance story.
This is a really sweet love story. It is about two friends who are separated while young. They have the school age crush that they never quite get over. Georgianna returns to Colorado from New York to help her grandfather after the death of her grandmother. She loves Colorado and has missed it and her friends. Of course, Ridge is still there and very handsome. Yes, there are sparks when they meet, as well as pride, misunderstanding, and a dilemma or two.
The story slows down and felt sluggish somewhere in the middle, that is why it isn't a five star rating. I don't know that I can pinpoint what didn't work for me. Overall, this is a fantastic book. It has a happy resolution and a great sense of humor.
I think Prudence Bice has just been put on my list of author's to watch for.
My rating: 3 of 5 stars Souce: received as part of an ARC tour through I Read Banned Books Genre: Contemporary YA Content Warning: There is content that it not suitable for a younger YA audience. The main character has a psychological illness that leads to disturbing behavior.
Description from Goodreads: Willa is lucky: She has a loving blended family that gets along. Not all families are so fortunate. But when a bloody crime takes place hundreds of miles away, it has an explosive effect on Willa’s peaceful life. The estranged father she hardly remembers has murdered his new wife and children, and is headed east toward Willa and her mother.
Under police protection, Willa discovers that her mother has harbored secrets that are threatening to boil over. Has everything Willa believed about herself been a lie? As Willa sets out to untangle the mysteries of her past, she keeps her own secret—one that has the potential to tear her family apart.
My thoughts: I liked this book but it was disturbing on many levels.
Willa is a teen growing up in a blended family. Her family is wonderful and on the surface, it seems ideal. She has a loving mother, a loving step-father, and two step-sisters who she has a good relationship with.
Everything changes when she returns a phone call to her mother's friend. Her biological father is on the run with one of his daughters. His wife and two of his daughters are found dead in their home. This begins a psychological journey for Willa. She has to come to come to terms with her father's actions, mourn the sisters that she never met, and deal with her hidden secret.Bit of a spoiler the next couple of sentences. That's why it's in small print. Read at your own risk. **** She cuts herself to escape when she is stressed. The use of a knife is prominent in this book. How her father uses it and how Willa uses it. It is part of what she learns to understand and to heal. ****
This is a good book, just be prepared for an emotional journey.
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!
Just do the following:
~Grab your current read.
~Open to a random page.
~Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page. (Sometimes I cheat a bit on this one and do a few more sentences.)
~Be careful not to include spoilers! (make sure that what you share doesn't give to much away. You don't want to ruin the book for others.)
~Share the title and author, so the other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser. :0)
I am reading from an ARC this week, so this quote is subject to change.
We were a family of secrets. I'd kept my share. One more wouldn't hurt. pg 135
