Monday, June 30, 2014

The V Girl by by Mya Robarts

21799202Genre: Post-Apocalyptic 
Kindle
Published: July 1, 2014
Series: None


Goodreads Synopsis:

In post-apocalyptic North America, rape and sexual slavery are legal. Lila Velez, desperately wants to lose her virginity before the troops visit her town and can take it away by force. She makes plans to seduce her only friend, Rey, the most attractive man in her town. Lila does not love him but he is the only man who has shown her true affection, an affection she is willing to take as a substitute of love.




Lila’s coping mechanism to her mother’s rape and kidnapping is her secret. A secret that will bring her closer to Aleksey, a foreign, broody man. Lila does not trust him because his links to the troops and his rough, yet irresistible appearance. Aleksey offers Lila an alternative to her plans, a possibility that terrifies her…and tempts her in spite of herself. 


All the while Lila will have to find a way to live in the constant company of death, slavery, starvation, sexual abuse and the danger of losing the people she loves the most.

Due to mature content, this book is intended for +18 readers.


Buy Links:

France
Italy



About the Author:

I am a bookaholic and regret nothing.



I spent years trying to become a contemporary dance choreographer. Eventually I realized that I enjoyed writing my stories rather than creating dances for them.

I am obsessed with books that present damaged characters, swoon worthy guys, controversial topics and happy endings.

Author Links:



Prologue: 

Year 21st of the civil war
Involved parts: Patriot army, Nationalist Army, United Sentinel army.
Number of Nationalist states casualties: 12,954,988.
Number of Patriot states casualties: 3,859,895
Number of United Sentinel casualties: 689,220

 “Copulation without conversation does not constitute fraternization.”
Say among allied troops during WW2
Prologue
In the barely lit room, there are only some gym mattresses and a couple of mirrors. I’ve set the mirrors so I can watch myself losing the V of my nick name.
 My “one-hour stand” climbs up the mattresses and touches my naked trembling body. His breathing becomes ragged, his eyes are dark.
I never imagined my first time like this. In my imagination, having my first time meant I would be in love.
I always thought I would only allow myself to be with someone in that way if I really, really, loved that person. He would also be unconditionally in love with me. He would be someone who would look at me as though I was his sun.
I wanted to lose my virginity to someone who adores me. Preferably someone who had said the five magic words: “Lila, will you marry me?” I wanted to have sex for the first time with someone I’d consider worthy enough to spend the rest of my life with. If I only had more time. Eighteen is too young in my book to have met the person to whom I want to commit my life.
I wish this occasion could have been a romantic spur of the moment situation. One thing leading to other in a natural manner and then...I wouldn’t be a V girl anymore.
That would have been an ideal situation. But I don’t live in an ideal world; I live in a world defined by a civil war.
My deflowering can’t be romantic or spontaneous. I’ve been preparing my first sexual encounter since I heard the troops were on their way to Starville.
I don’t love my sexual partner. He doesn’t love me either. But it has to be him or it is going to be a random guy from the troops…through force.
My “lover” hesitates for a moment. I feel his weight pressing me to the mattress. His body tenses. I wait for him to make the next move.  But I’m afraid he has changed his mind.



Excerpt:

Rey is the only man I can think of who can serve my purpose. He’s the only boy in town who doesn’t despise me. He even protects me. Hopefully, he won’t find a reason to protect me from himself.

I don’t want to develop feelings for my best friend.  Because of my plans, Rey has been in my thoughts constantly since the troops announced their arrival, and I hate it. To distract my mind from Rey, I venture a little further in the water current.

Feeling fresh now that I’m clean and shaved, my mood improves. I splash and swim in the water, allowing myself to relax and play.
If I swim to the other side, I might catch Divine and Joey making love in the river beach. Perhaps I should get a little bit of last minute instruction.
A rumble brings me out of my reverie and then I hear some distant shots. My survival instincts wake up and I’m instantly alert.
More shots. It isn’t possible. Nobody in town has access to gun powder or explosives. You don’t get caught with them unless you want to get executed. They have to be soldiers. Patriot soldiers.

Just then I hear sounds above the current noise. Steps on the river beach. I’m barely armed not to mention undressed and unprepared. My razors might keep Starville peeping toms at bay, but they’ll be useless against soldiers.
I hear steps approaching and I wade away. In no time I find myself far from where I left my clothes. My best chance to safely get out of this situation is to avoid a fight. I can remain hidden if I move to the other side of the river behind the rocks. If soldiers see me so vulnerable and naked, I’m doomed.
I need to hurry. I have to head home soon and make sure my dad and siblings are safe.

The steps sound like they come from only one person but I can’t be sure. As they sound closer, I notice they come from my right.
I don’t know what I’m more afraid of: the intruder being an armed soldier or the fact of being caught so exposed.
Trying to not splash attract attention, I put distance between me and the steps. Hiding behind some bushes and rocks, I submerge myself, leaving only my head above the water line.

I stand still. Several minutes pass and I hear nothing. When I consider it safe to leave my hiding place, I swim, splashing as little as I can.
Then I notice something that makes my heart skip a beat.
I’m not the only person here.  There’s someone else treading the water.  I can’t see how many people are around, but I can hear as someone else splashes.
A feel of panic rushes hot through my veins.

I’m surprised no one’s attacked me yet.  Haven’t they seen me? Does the splashing come from Starvillers hiding from the shots as well?
For a moment there’s only silence. Then another shot startles me and I fight my body to keep calm. I swim as fast as I can, not caring about silence anymore. Better to put distance between myself and my possible enemies.  The water and the current make my escape slow. I reach a point where the water is only at my knees and I’m hiding behind a trunk.
Then I see him.

A young man, so tall and built that for a moment, I think he’s Sasquatch minus the fur. The water only covers him around the thighs. No one in Starville, not even Rey, is so big or built. His strong muscles reveal years of military training and hint at the drug use that makes Patriot soldiers so inhumanly tall and big. Wet strands of sandy blond hair run down his broad shoulders. A tattoo on his back tells me he has been in combat and is to be respected. A soldier! Something tells me he’s alone.

My stomach clenches in panic. I’m terrified of Patriot soldiers. They are sadistic giants and killing machines. The tonics they take to build their muscles and stature make them extremely dangerous and violent. And horny.
I lose sight of him for a moment. He emerges in a different spot where the water is deeper. He is so tall, the water covers only up his waist while he’s standing. He must be at least seven feet tall. When he moves I can see his most private areas. Every part of him is enormous.

He’s in the very spot I left my clothes. I could wait for him to go, but what if others come to join him? What if they plan to camp here? I want to go home to check on my dad and the twins. The possibility of being discovered with no one to witness when he rapes me makes the hairs on the back of my neck prick. I won’t wait for the coast to be clear, risking discovery and gang rape.
He doesn’t seem to be in attack mode. The soldier is inclined and rubbing foam around his huge torso. He is bathing! I suspect he has a good reason to be unbothered by the shots. If he’s not startled, it’s likely whoever’s making the racket will take his side.

Suppressing the fear that runs through my veins, I force my mind to remain focused. For a moment, I consider attacking him while he’s so naked and defenseless. I’ve been practicing knife throwing with my rebel group. But I’m still learning and suck at it. I rarely hit the target. Besides, Sasquatch’s nakedness and apparent relaxed behavior are deceiving.  I’m armed while bathing, so he probably is too. What if he alerts his companions?

I don’t stand a chance fighting against a trained unit of steroid-injected soldiers. At this moment my only advantage is my knowledge of the hiding places of this river. And stealth. I can do stealth.

  He’s blocking the only way to get my clothes and the safer spot to get out of the river.  There’s a gargantuan rock behind him that reaches not far from where I’m hiding. If I could climb it unseen, I could get back my clothes and escape. The only other option is to swim to the other side, where the current is too strong.

The soldier submerges frequently and emerges several minutes after. I pay attention to the soldier’s face.  He looks extremely sad.  Sadness isn’t an emotion I associate with soldiers.

When he rubs his face with foam and closes his eyes, I silently approach the low part of the current and climb the rock. I’m still naked and holding a knife awkwardly. If I can pass him, I’ll hide on the other side and then dress completely unnoticed.

I put my foot on the base of the rock. The water has made it smooth and slippery. There are few places to put my fingers and climb on. But I manage to climb my way up.  

When I’m almost at the top, I toss my knife over the rock to free my hands. From here I can confirm the soldier is by himself. 
Sasquatch is back under the water now and hasn’t resurfaced for a while. In spite of the danger, I’m impressed. He has lung capacity. 
The higher I climb, the less visible I become to him. He finally emerges to take air, but I hide until he goes back under.  
I’m close to my goal when my feet become slippery traitors.
I fall to the water below me.
Butt first. Straight toward the soldier’s head.

Giveaway:



Extra:







Tempest by Julie Cross

Genre: Time Travel
11455096Hardcover: 352 Pages
Published: January 17, 2012
Series: Tempest
            1. Tempest
            2. Vortex
            3. Timestorm
Rating:★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

The year is 2009.  Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.


That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler.  Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.


My Review:

     I think many people will enjoy reading this book a lot more than I did. Don't get me wrong, I loved this idea of time travel and the whole concept, but by the end of this book I just wasn't feeling it. It is similar to the movie Jumper, which btw was an amazing movie and I guess one of the reasons why I chose to read this book was based on the movie (the movie and book have no correlation). The beginning was fast paced and interesting. I was turning pages and reading so quickly you would think that I was eating potato chips or something.
             
     Jackson Meyer is a college student in 2009 who has recently discovered that he can jump back and forth through time. He has begun to test the limits of his abilities with the help of his friend Adam. Then one day a bunch of mysterious guys burst into his dorm, to capture him and instead accidently kill his girlfriend. Now it's up to Jackson to figure out a way to go back in time and save his girlfriend. At the same time he has to be careful of the things he changes in the past and try to stay away from the bad guys who are chasing him.


     The concept of the plot was very interesting and I enjoyed reading this book. However, at numerous times I was totally lost and confused to what time we were in. I didn't like the fact that the timings kept changing and I had to re-read chapters to understand what was going on. I think this book has a lot of potential, but the execution was poorly done. I did try to read the second book in this series (Vortex), but I just couldn't get into the book. Hopefully, I can come back to it in another year and see if I can continue with the series, but for now I think if time travel is something that interests you then definitely give this book a try.  

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Dark Mirror by M.J. Putney

Genre: Magic
Paperback: 304 Pages
8705693Published: March 2011
Series: Dark Mirror
            1. Dark Mirror
            2. Dark Passage
            3. Dark Destiny
Rating:★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

At sixteen, Lady Victoria Mansfield, youngest daughter of the earl and countess of Fairmount, is destined for a charmed life and her choice of mates worthy of her status. Then she makes a terrifying discovery that will ruin her life and disgrace her family forever. Tory's blood is tainted... by magic.



When a shocking accident forces Tory to reveal her despised skill, she is immediately exiled to Lackland Abbey, a reform school for young men and women in her position. Tory's greatest wish is to be cured so she can return home and perhaps recover some of her shattered life.

Instead, curiosity and the lure of magic lead Tory to rebel students who have pledged their talents to protect England. As she joins them in their secret studies, she discovers her full powers - and is drawn to the handsome, enigmatic young Marquis of Allarde. But Allarde'a reserve and haunting secret keep him away, though she can see equal longing in his eyes.

Then Tory's pledge sweeps her and her friends into a perilous world of danger, challenge, and a triumph that saves Britain from conquest. Can danger also bring Tory and Allarde together, despite all that stands between them?



My Review: 

I enjoyed this book very much. Let me count the ways:

1. Tory was an amazing female lead. She is smart, funny, strong, independent and determined. She didn't believe everything her society told her to believe and she didn't become brainwashed about the idea of magic.  

2. The idea of a society considering magic as wrong and disgraceful was a very creative idea. I give props to the author for originality.

3. The time-traveling aspect was amazing! I loved the idea that the mirror wasn't something to be messed with or taken lightly. Instead it was used for important purposes which help the future of all people.  

4. Plus I think the idea of time travel was executed with a well thought out premise. It was fascinating to read how the characters changed their appearances and how they were introduced to new technology as they traveled through time.

5. I loved all the characters because they were mature and likable. It is rare to find more than one character who I don't want to strangle or slap. So it was refreshing to read about characters with well written personalities.

6. This book is a doozy of a novel. It has many different genres--fantasy, historical fiction, romance, science fiction, magic-- that made this story an interesting first book in this series.   

7. Overall, I really liked this book. I would definitely recommend this book to all you magic lovers. Plus it's an original idea that stands out to readers who want something different to sink their teeth in.  




Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

Genre: Mythology
Hardcover: 388 Pages
Published: August 24, 2010
Series: Shadow Hills
            1. Shadow Hills
            2. TBA
Rating:★★★★


Goodreads Synopsis:

After her sister Athena's tragic death, it's obvious that grief-stricken Persephone "Phe" Archer no longer belongs in Los Angeles. Hoping to make sense of her sister's sudden demise and the cryptic dreams following it, Phe abandons her bubbly LA life to attend an uptight East Coast preparatory school in Shadow Hills, MA -- a school which her sister mysteriously mentioned in her last diary entry before she died. 

Once there, Phe quickly realizes that something is deeply amiss in her new town. Not only does Shadow Hills' history boast an unexplained epidemic that decimated hundreds of its citizens in the 1700s, but its modern townies also seem eerily psychic, with the bizarre ability to bend metal. Even Zach -- the gorgeous stranger Phe meets and immediately begins to lust after -- seems as if he is hiding something serious. Phe is determined to get to the bottom of it. The longer she stays there, the more she suspects that her sister's untimely death and her own destiny are intricately linked to those who reside in Shadow Hills.


My Review:


            In many paranormal books you can guess in the begining of the book what the paranormal aspect will be. Whether it's about werewolves, vampires, or dragons, you have a small idea what the book is going to be about. However, with Shadow Hills, I had no idea what I was getting into. It starts off in the category of what-the-hell-is-going-on and it kept me on my toes! This book left me guessing throughout and I couldn't figure out what it was going to be about. That is pretty impressive when a book can keep me on my toes since I am very good at guessing the general plot of the book.  To be honest, I don't remember much of the plot, but I do remember loving this book. It definitely has potential to be a very good series. 


Saturday, June 28, 2014

Variant by Robison Wells

Genre: Sci-fi
10433900Hardcover: 373 Pages
Published: September 26, 2011
Series: Variant
            1. Variant
            2. Feedback
            3. TBA
Rating:★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Benson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.


He was wrong.

Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive.

Where breaking the rules equals death.

But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape—his only real hope for survival—may be impossible.


My Review:

Variant is a fast-paced, gripping novel that slaps you with a doozy of a cliffhanger on the last page. It's told from Benson Fishers point of view. He is a 17 year old, who applies for and receives a scholarship to Maxfield Academy, thinking it will get him away from the numerous foster him replacements. Of course after attending the Academy he can see that is not the case.

There are no adults at Maxfield, just video monitoring and four rules: no 'violent fights, no refusing punishment, no sex, and no trying to escape. Breaking these rules results in detention and no one returns from detention. In my opinion it is basically like this: 'the inmates are running the asylum.'

Before Benson's arrival, the students at the Academy have been running the show like The Lord of the Flies. There are three ''gangs'' who have come to a truce, but still have competitions and fights against each other. This book has a chilling premise and for the most part it was well done. The author kept the reader entertained and on the edge of their seat. I liked the issues that were presented and how the tension kept rising as the story continued. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in sci-fi.


Fractured by Erin Hayes

21865341Genre: Horror
Paperback: ?
Published: 2014
Series: None
Rating:★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:


Blinded by a mysterious seizure when she was three years old, Bash Martin has managed to carve out a normal life for herself as an adult. Yet she still yearns for a deeper connection with her twin sister Lily, who has always been jealous of the attention their parents bestowed upon Bash due to her disability. 



A dream vacation seems like the perfect chance to heal their relationship, but Bash soon realizes there is something terribly wrong with Lily and that her sister is hiding a dark secret. And when a supernatural fire engulfs their hotel and corpses come back to life, the sisters are plunged into a nightmarish world that threatens not only their lives, but their very souls.

My Review:

     Bash and Lily, two twin girls, were playing in the playground when an accident occurred about twenty years ago. The accident left Bash blinded and once again Bash was the one who was favored, while Lily was the naughty twin. All her life Lily has always come second to Bash and she has had enough of this. So when Bash steals the guy that Lily has a crush on, things start to get really crazy. Lily finds out secrets about her family and a dangerous deal that was made with the devil leaves Lily in a heap of trouble. Will the twins be able to stop all the deaths occurring in their town or will they ignore this and cause more deaths?

      Fractured was definitely an interesting read. I really liked the concept that the author had created and the plot was very fascinating. I also liked the characters because I was able to connect with them and I didn't find the need to roll my eyes. However, I didn't particularly care for Bash, I think she was just in over her head since she was the more favored child, but Lily was the one character I liked a lot. Her personality was strong and determined, which I like in female leads. This book for sure falls into the horror category and if you like horror then this is the book for you! Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and I do recommend this to everyone who loves a good mystery. 


Water Wars by Cameron Stracher

7749505Genre: Dystopian 
Hardcover: 240 Pages
Published: January 1, 2011
Series: None
Rating:★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Welcome to a future where water is more precious than gold or oil—and worth killing for Vera and her brother, Will, live in the shadow of the Great Panic, in a country that has collapsed from environmental catastrophe. Water is hoarded by governments, rivers are dammed, and clouds are sucked from the sky. But then Vera befriends Kai, who seems to have limitless access to fresh water. When Kai suddenly disappears, Vera and Will set off on a dangerous journey in search of him-pursued by pirates, a paramilitary group, and greedy corporations. Timely and eerily familiar, acclaimed author Cameron Stracher makes a stunning YA debut that's impossible to forget.


My Review: 

            A war about water was something I never expected to read. It was an interesting topic to poke at and I liked how the author presented the idea and the plot. However, it just wasn't my cup of tea. I'm all for saving the environment and everything, but this book just seemed a little too much. A war over water? That's kind of ridicules to me.

            This book revolves around two teens, Vera and Kai who explore a mild romance and give the reader a in depth look at a dessert like environment, where water is a rare commodity and people are always thirsty. I give props to the author for being original and creative. I found the romance to be one sided, thus resulting in Vera risking her life to show her devotion to Kai, while he sits at home with water living a carefree life.

            Overall, this was an okay beginning to a first novel. However, I don't think many people will go for the environmentalist background the author was trying to portray. I think the idea was smart and interesting, but there just wasn't any romance. And I am a big sucker for romance.

P.S. The Cover is freaking gorgeous!!!!!!!




Friday, June 27, 2014

Nightrise #3 by Anthony Horowitz

Genre: Thriller
107669Hardcover: 368 Pages
Published: May 1, 2007
Series: The Gatekeepers
            1. Raven's Gate
            2. Evil Star
            3. Nightrise
            4. Necropolis
            5. Oblivion
Rating:★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

The third heart-pounding book in #1 NYT bestselling author Anthony Horowitz's spellbinding The Gatekeepers series 

A gate has been opened. The Old Ones have been released. And now the third and fourth of The Five -- twins with a mysterious psychic bond -- are joining the fight.


My Review:

            Nightrise takes us on another interesting ride. This time we meet Scott and Jamie, two 14 year old twins who are part of a show in Rena Nevada. After performing their act, Scott is kidnapped by Nightrise, a company trying to kidnap all of the Gatekeepers and stop them from closing the gates. Jamie is then saved by Alicia McGuire, a middle -aged woman who is trying to save her son Daniel, who was also kidnapped by Nightrise.

           
      So a lot is happening in this book and some of the things got really confusing. While the story with Jamie and Scott progressed, Pedro and Matt are trying to stay alive. They are communicating with the twins, but they haven't met yet. This was really annoying for me since the book kept going back and forth between the two stories and all the information just got jumbled along the way. Another thing that annoyed me was when Jamie is shot trying to save Scott he is sent back in time about 10, 000 years to when the Old Ones came to the world. The author didn't explain how that was even able to happen and then didn't explain how Jamie got back to the present after defeating the Old Ones. Another issue I had was why did people want to save the Old Ones when the Old Ones were planning on killing all the people? It was frustrating, because I had so many questions and not enough answers. Overall, I say this book was okay. Although, not as amazing as the first book in this series.