Review: Fever by Lauren DeStefano

Title: Fever (The Chemical Garden #2)

Author: Lauren DeStefano 

Publication Date: February 21, 2012

Synopsis: 

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

My Thoughts:

*Warning: This review may contain spoilers for book one, Wither. Please read at your own risk!*

It's only been a few days since Rhine and Gabriel managed to escape the mansion and Rhine's evil father-in-law, Vaughn. After stealing a boat, they somehow find themselves on land and at a mysterious carnival. Held against their will and drugged, Rhine and Gabriel are desperate to escape. Madame, the ruler of the carnival, is an evil woman who sells girls to the highest buyer, or just by the hour. She is determined to incorporate Rhine into her show, even if Rhine refuses. But at what cost are Rhine and Gabriel willing to pay to break free?

It's been quite a long time since I read Wither, two years actually. I wasn't sure if I was going to remember everything that happened in the first book and how lost I was going to be when I finally picked up Fever. Turns out, I forgot quite a bit. But that's ok because everything I needed to know was once again told to me in this book and I could easily fill in the gaps. 

What I do remember though is how much I loved Wither, and Fever was just as amazing. Rhine's character is growing stronger and more determined to escape Vaughn and to find her brother, Rowan. She won't let anything stop her, not when she knows what she needs to do. I'm still not sure of Gabriel though. I feel like he is missing something. Fire or passion,  I'm not sure. It's clear that he cares about Rhine, but their relationship is not at the level I would expect it to be after he risked his life to run away with her. I want more from him. I want to see him let go and prove to Rhine how he feels. I need to feel some more goosebumps when they are together. 

There is also, of course, the big bad evil Vaughn. His true colors really shine in this book and I was shocked to learn a few of his secrets that I should have seen coming from the first book, but didn't. I can't wait to get my hands on Sever and make sure that he has what is coming to him. As for his son, Linden, I'm still a little torn on my feelings for him. I didn't like him in Wither, but for some reason I found myself feeling sorry for him in this book. I really hope he turns out to be not-so-awful.

I guess what I'm saying here is: why the heck did I wait so long to read Fever? I'm so glad I decided to take part in a sequels challenge that finally forced me to pick up some long shelved books. I won't let this happen again. I am determined to pick up the final book in this series, Sever, as soon as possible. I need to know what happens with these characters, I'm too invested in them now to let them go. 

For more about Lauren DeStefano and Fever, visit her website here.

Purchase:

Amazon

B&N

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Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Sentient by Kenechi Udogu

I'm so thrilled to be taking part in the cover reveal for Sentient by Kenechi Udogu, the second book two in The Mentalist Series! 

About Sentient:

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Expected Release Date: October 28, 2013

Mastering her Progressive Empath abilities isn’t going as well as Gemma hoped. In fact, months after finding out what she really is, she still has no clue what this truly means. All she can do is wait to see if any new abilities will eventually manifest. Things aren’t going great with Russ either. Unsure of how to handle her Sentient Link with him, she tries to integrate herself in his busy social life but struggles to adjust to her new circumstances.

When she is plagued by recurring nightmares, Gemma realises things are changing and knows she has to do something, fast. The arrival of two sets of strangers in town, both offering the much needed assistance she needs to unearth her powers, escalates the situation even further. Gemma attempts to decipher whose intentions are genuine, but does she have enough time to figure out who has her best interest at heart?

About Aversion (Book One):

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publication Date: December 1, 2012

For Gemma Green’s first time, things should have been straightforward. Find your subject, hold their gaze and push a thought into their head to save them from future disaster – Aversion complete. A pretty simple process given that the subject was to have no recollection of the experience. But Russ Tanner doesn’t seem to want to forget. In fact the more she tries to avoid him, the more he pushes to get to know her. Gemma knows she has a problem but is she facing the side effects of a failed Aversion or has the school’s tennis champ really fallen for her?

Giveaway:

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Cover Reveal & Giveaway: The Ripple Effect Romance Novella Series

The Ripple Effect Romance Novella Series 
Enjoy this exciting new series of clean novellas by six critically-acclaimed authors.

"Like a pebble tossed into calm water, a simple act can ripple outward and have a far-reaching effect on those we meet, perhaps setting a life on a different course—one filled with excitement, adventure, and sometimes even love."

Book 1: Home Matters by Julie N. Ford
Book 2: Silver Linings by Kaylee Baldwin
Book 3: Righting A Wrong by Rachael Anderson
Book 4: Lost and Found by Karey White
Book 5: Second Chances 101 by Donna K. Weaver
Book 6: Immersed in Love by Jennifer Griffith

Home Matters by Julie N. Ford

According to her mother, Olivia Pembroke was born to be a star. But how is she supposed to be famous when she can't even get a decent acting gig? Her lucky break comes when she lands an audition for a wildly popular home improvement show. Even though she has no design training and has never even held a power tool, she refuses to let that stop her. She's confident that her destiny is finally within reach.

When her affections are torn between her heartthrob co-host and the irritating, yet somehow endearing lead contractor, does she continue to reach for the stars? Or does she design a new happily ever after? One that leads not to the fading lights of fame and fortune, but to a love that will burn forever.

Silver Linings by Kaylee Baldwin

Drew Westfall wants nothing more than to forget what he had to do in the name of "smart" business. Cutting off all ties with his parents—including handing over the entire contents of his trust fund to a charity—he takes off for Bridger, Colorado where his best friend has an extra room for him. It doesn't take long for him to realize that his business degree won’t do him much good in a town as small as Bridger, but he's broke and has nowhere else to go.

Eden Torresi has every reason to wallow. Not only did she lose her mother, but she had to drop out of nursing school and is in a relationship with a guy unwilling to commit. But Eden isn't the wallowing type. Instead, she chooses to spend most of her time taking care of the seniors at Silver Linings Nursing home. When she learns that her boyfriend's new roommate is down on his luck, her caring nature makes her want to reach out to him and offer what help she can. But the more time they spend together, the more complicated things get, especially when the seniors of Silver Linings decide to play matchmaker.

Righting a Wrong by Rachael Anderson

Seven years ago, Cambri Blaine fled her small hometown of Bridger, Colorado after her senior year ended in a fiasco. Only Jace Sutton knew the real reason why—that she was a spineless coward. Now, seven years later, her father's been in an accident and needs help, and Cambr has no choice but to return home. So with trepidation, she takes a leave of absence from the landscape architecture firm where she works and boards a plane, hoping against hope that Jace is no longer around and that the past can stay where it belongs—in the past.

If only life worked that way.

Jace never expected to see Cambri again. After she’d led him on, bruised his heart, and left town without a backward glance, he was forced to pick up the pieces and try not to hate her for it. Eventually, he put it behind him and moved on, creating a life for himself in his beloved hometown. But now that Cambri is back and looking more beautiful and sophisticated than ever, some of those old feelings resurface, and Jake instinctively knows, for the sake of his heart, that he needs to avoid her at all costs.

If only it were that easy.

Lost and Found by Karey White

Lydia was supposed to have an adventurous and exciting summer. Instead she's done nothing more than read and eat takeout. Now it's time to go home, and what does she have to show for it? A big fat nothing. Unless, of course, her trip to the airport somehow turns into something more than just a flight home.

Blake feels like he's been sent on a wild goose chase. While work is piling up back in Denver, he's on the other side of the country, hunting for some mysterious box that his grandfather left him. Well, no more. Nothing inside that box could possibly be more important than the opportunity to make it as the youngest partner at his firm. So he's going home, and that's that. But that's before he discovers his flight has been cancelled.

When these two strangers meet at the airport, they make a split-second decision to search for the box together. Maybe with both of them on the hunt, Lydia can have her adventure and Blake can find the box. And maybe, if they’re lucky, they’ll even find some romance.

Second Chances 101 by Donna K. Weaver

Thirty seven year old Francie Davis, a recent widow and empty nester, gets to attend college at last. She’s sure her luck has changed when she also lands a job on campus that will pay her tuition, as administrative assistant to a history professor. When her handsome new boss yells at her on the first day of work, Francie worries she will never be good enough.

For Professor Alex Diederik, life is going downhill fast. Not only is his bitter ex-wife trying to poison their only daughter against him, but now his one place of solace—his work environment—is being complicated by his attractive new administrative assistant. She drives home his feelings of failure as a husband and father, and Alex wonders if hiring her was the right thing to do.

Francie will have to put aside her hurt and insecurities or risk her dreams, while Alex must look outside himself if he’s to mend the breach with his daughter. And, perhaps, find someone who can help heal his pain.

Immersed in Love by Jennifer Griffith

Lisette Pannebaker speaks five languages and has a brilliant business plan—personal language immersion. Clients can hire her to shadow them and speak all day in any language they need to learn for business or travel—whatever.

But there’s a major hitch: she’s far too pretty. Clients with less than honorable intentions sign up just have Lisette at their side. Solution? A make-under. Way under.It works like a charm. None of her male clients show her the least bit of interest.

Until… Erik.

Erik Gunnarsson is charming, kind, and smart—everything she’s ever looked for. Even though he seems to have a secret and she swore she'd never date a client, Lisette is tempted to shed her disguise—even if it means jeopardizing her career.



Giveaway Details
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 10/31/13

Bloggers who put up a spotlight post about these books on their blog can enter to win an additional $25 gift card or paypal cash.  See details in the Rafflecopter.

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


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On My Wish List (103)

On My Wish List is a fun weekly event hosted by Workaday Reads and runs every Saturday. It's where we list all the books we desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming.

Title: Leap of Faith

Author: Jamie Blair

Publication Date: September 3, 2013

Synopsis:

Can true love be built on lies? A teen on the run seeks relief and redemption in this gripping, romantic read.

Leah Kurtz has finally found a place to call home, a town where she and baby Addy can live in peace, far from the drug-infested place she grew up. Chris is one of the best parts of her new life, the only person who’s ever made her feel safe. And now that she’s found him, there’s no way she can tell the truth:

Her real name is Faith, not Leah. She’s seventeen, not nineteen. And the baby isn’t hers—Faith kidnapped her.

Faith’s history catches up with her when a cop starts asking questions and Chris’s aunt spots her picture in the newspaper. She knows it’s time to run again, but if Faith leaves, she’ll lose Chris. If Chris is in love with a lie, though, did Faith ever really have him in the first place?

Everything about this book is SCREAMING at me to read it, and immediately. I love kidnapping stories, but this one? This is something new. I need to know why she kidnapped the baby and what will happen to her relationship with Chris after he learns the truth. I'm also hoping there is a decent explanation to the kidnapping to begin with. I don't know how long I can hold off on getting this book. I may have to pick it up soon. Oh hell, I might just have to go get it now...

Review: Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

Title: Girl of Nightmares (Anna Dressed in Blood #2)

Author: Kendare Blake

Publication Date: August 12, 2012

Synopsis:

It's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on. 

His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live—not walk around half dead. He knows they're right, but in Cas's eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.


Now he's seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he's asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong...these aren't just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.


Cas doesn't know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it's time for him to return the favor.

My Thoughts:

*WARNING: This review contains spoilers for book one, Anna Dressed in Blood. Please read at your own risk!*

Girl of Nightmares picks up a few months after Anna Dressed in Blood ends. Cas still hasn't come to terms with the fact that Anna is gone, especially now that he is seeing her and dreaming about her. At first he thinks he may be hallucinating, but unfortunately it is all too real. Anna is trapped in another world and is being tortured. With the help of his friends Thomas and Carmel, Cas is determined to find a way to bring Anna back, even if that means possibly losing his own life in the process.

It's been over a year since I read Anna. I inhaled that book in two days, it was amazing. Then Nightmares came out and I was desperate to read it. Very desperate, I tell you. But even though I ran out and got myself a copy, something happened when I got home and I somehow never got around to reading it. It has been on my shelf for about a year now, waiting for me to pick it back up. It took the September is for Sequels Challenge for me to finally get to it. Honestly though, how could I have let that happen?!

This book was just as awesome as I imagined it would be. Cas is such an amazing character, a ghost hunter who only kills ghosts that harm people instead of all he encounters, and I have to admit that I missed him. He has a hard job passed down to him from his father, but he doesn't let this change who he is or his personality. He could be cold and cruel, but instead he is sensitive and concerned for others. He is one of my favorite male lead characters. We also finally learn about his family background and how he and his father came to be ghost hunters, and even a little about that elusive friend Gideon.  

After finishing Anna, I wasn't sure how the author was going to bring these characters back together or what their future could possibly be, but I have to say that I was impressed with where this story took me. When I started reading, I was determined for one specific scenario to come true. It had to happen, I needed it to. But about halfway through the story my feelings started to change. The author did a great job toying with my emotions and making me debate within my own head about how the story should end. But ultimately, it didn't even end up mattering because the ending to this story was just so beautiful and perfect that I couldn't have imagined it any other way. 

Overall, this was the perfect ending to a brilliant story. If you loved the first book, you need to read this. If you haven't read the first book, why the heck not? You are missing out big time. I highly recommend this series to anyone and everyone who loves Young Adult, mystery, horror or just a plain old awesome read!

For more about Kendare Black and Girl of Nightmares, visit her website here.

Purchase:

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Review & Giveaway: Pink Slips and Glass Slippers by J.P. Hansen

Title: Pink Slips and Glass Slippers

Author: J.P. Hansen

Publication Date: November 20, 2012

Synopsis: 

Brooke Hart was beautiful, smart, and groomed from birth to deal with adversity. 

Her widowed father did his best to raise his baby girl to be a strong-minded business woman. Then she found Tanner. Just when her world seemed perfect, everything turned upside down.
Following Tanner’s tragic death, Brooke joins a start-up company that is developing a cure for the disease that killed the love of her life. Just before the treatment is ready to market, the company is gobbled up by a giant conglomerate. She moves to the acquiring company as its youngest VP and becomes enamored with CEO Chase Allman—only to be betrayed by him.

Brooke rebounds again and sets out on a personal journey to discover what will truly make her happy. Sparks fly when she and Chase cross paths again in an unlikely way. Now, they need each other to find an abducted child and save thousands of people.

My Thoughts:

When I was first approached by the author for a possible review of Pink Slips and Glass Slippers, he explained to me that he wrote this book in response to a dare. Someone had said that men can't write romance and he was out to prove them wrong. I immediately knew that I had to read the book. Not because I agreed with the person who challenged him, but because I agreed with the author and wanted to see if he had succeeded. He most definitely did. 

Pink Slips and Glass Slippers is the story of Brooke Hart, a successful business woman who is still trying to find her way after the loss of her husband, Tanner. She was working for GenSense, a research company, when it was sold to Pharmical Solutions and she decided to make the move along with it. Unfortunately, the new company is nothing like her old one. They are interested in only what will make them money, not the drugs that could save thousands of lives. 

I have to admit to liking Brooke right away. She was incredibly smart and successful, yet that didn't impact her personality at all. She was very kind, hardworking and sensitive. I couldn't imagine the pain she was going through after such a horrific loss and that just made me cheer for her even more. She also reminded me a little of myself in a few ways, especially when she would get angry (although I'm not really sure that's a good thing). 

Then we have Chase, the CEO of Brooke's new company and a very handsome one at that. Sparks fly between Brooke and Chase immediately but of course, nothing can happen since they work together. Chase is a loving father and only wants the best for his son, even if that means keeping up appearances where he'd much rather move on. 

The relationship between Brooke and Chase may have started out with just a mutual crush, but eventually things start to heat up and once it did, I couldn't get enough. Things don't come easy for the pair though, and some pretty hilarious misunderstandings make them have to work that much harder to make things right. Even though there were some heavy subjects fused in with the romance, they didn't weigh the story down one bit. If anything, the personal backgrounds of the characters bring them to life and make their budding relationship all the more believable. 

Overall, even though some of the romantic talks and metaphors came off as a little corny, I definitely have to say that the author did one heck of a job putting that "dare" to shame. There's a reason that this book has been so successful. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone who enjoys romance with a hint of mystery and a lot of substance. 

About J.P. Hansen:

J.P. Hansen is an award-winning, bestselling author of three books, a professional speaker and life coach. In addition, he is CEO of an executive search company, and for the past twenty years, he has helped thousands of people find their dream jobs. A self-made millionaire at a young age, prior to founding his own business, he was the youngest vice president of sales & marketing at a Fortune 30 company (ConAgra). Previously, he successfully ascended the corporate ladders at blue-chip companies Nestle, SC Johnson Wax, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. He graduated from Boston College with a BA in English and an area of concentration in Economics.

Where to find J.P.:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Purchase Pink Slips and Glass Slippers:

Amazon

B&N

The Book Depository

Giveaway:

Three winners will each a Kindle copy of Pink Slips and Glass Slippers provided by the author (Thanks, J.P.!). Open to US only, ends 10/11. 

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*I received this book for free in exchange of my honest review. This did not influence my opinion in any way and all views and opinions expressed are 100% my own.

An Interview with J.P. Hansen, author of Pink Slips and Glass Slippers!

Today I am pleased to welcome J.P. Hansen, author of Pink Slips and Glass Slippers. J.P. has stopped by to tell us a little more about himself and where he got his inspiration for Pink Slips and Glass Slippers.

About Pink Slips and Glass Slippers:

Brooke Hart was beautiful, smart, and groomed from birth to deal with adversity. 

Her widowed father did his best to raise his baby girl to be a strong-minded business woman. Then she found Tanner. Just when her world seemed perfect, everything turned upside down.
Following Tanner’s tragic death, Brooke joins a start-up company that is developing a cure for the disease that killed the love of her life. Just before the treatment is ready to market, the company is gobbled up by a giant conglomerate. She moves to the acquiring company as its youngest VP and becomes enamored with CEO Chase Allman—only to be betrayed by him.

Brooke rebounds again and sets out on a personal journey to discover what will truly make her happy. Sparks fly when she and Chase cross paths again in an unlikely way. Now, they need each other to find an abducted child and save thousands of people.

Welcome, J.P.!

Q. Can you please tell us more about yourself and your book, Pink Slips and Glass Slippers?

I wrote “The Bliss List—Discover What Truly Makes You Happy, Then Land Your Dream Job,” a book about finding your dream job. It turned out my dream job became writing in the process. I still haven’t quit my day jobs though: Life Coach, Inspirational Speaker, and CEO of an Executive Search company. For “Pink Slips and Glass Slippers,” I drew from my experiences in corporate America and the subject of forbidden love (i.e. an affair between a CEO and VP). Ultimately, I’m a sap for HEA and wanted to tell a unique tale of unconditional love. My mission statement to write books that inspire, whether non-fiction (“The Bliss List,” Reader’s Digest) or fiction.

Q. You said you wrote this book based off a dare. How did this come about?

“Pink Slips and Glass Slippers” started out as a dare (“guys can’t write Romance”), then turned into a magical ride for me. I love it when a reader takes the time to say she enjoyed my love story—and watching it skyrocket to #1 on Amazon (twice).

Q. Did you find it difficult to write from a woman's point of view? Was there something particular that you found harder to write than everything else?

Before I wrote a single word in the novel, I took the time to write a detailed stepsheet (i.e. plot summary, characters, POV choice, etc.). Then, I wrote myself a five-page letter from both of my main characters—Brooke and Chase. This was where the story came to life for me.

My greatest challenge? Writing steamy love scenes without using dirty words. No doubt about it. One astute reviewer wrote: “Steam yet Substance.” Let me know if you agree?

Q. With the success of Pink Slips, will you continue to write romantic fiction?

Yes, I returned to the manuscript of an older nasty thriller/horror story and started a massive re-write, converting it to a romantic thriller. I’m having a blast with it!

Q. What have been some of the challenges you have faced during writing and on the road to publication?

I believe it takes ten years to become an overnight sensation. After 308 rejections from literary agents when querying for my first book, “The Bliss List,” it would have been easy to abandon writing. But, that voice inside wouldn’t let me quit. I also received a piece of great advice from a bestselling author: Don't quit your day job! I’d add to that: Develop an impenetrable shield of thick skin. Persistence pays off!

Q. What are you working on now?

Thanks to the ten-page Reader’s Digest article in June, my Life Coaching and Public Speaking business has taken off. I’m managing to juggle writing six books currently: 4 fiction and 2 non-fiction.

 Q. What was the book that most impacted your life and why? 

“The Bliss List” inspired the courage to write a Romance novel—and to continue writing.

About J.P. Hansen:

J.P. Hansen is an award-winning, bestselling author of three books, a professional speaker and life coach. In addition, he is CEO of an executive search company, and for the past twenty years, he has helped thousands of people find their dream jobs. A self-made millionaire at a young age, prior to founding his own business, he was the youngest vice president of sales & marketing at a Fortune 30 company (ConAgra). Previously, he successfully ascended the corporate ladders at blue-chip companies Nestle, SC Johnson Wax, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. He graduated from Boston College with a BA in English and an area of concentration in Economics.

Where to find J.P.:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Purchase Pink Slips and Glass Slippers:

Amazon

B&N

The Book Depository

*Thank you again to J.P. for stopping by! Be sure to come back tomorrow to check out my review for Pink Slips and Glass Slippers and the chance to win a copy too!

Blogoversary Bash Bonanza #9: Swag Pack #2!

It's time for another Blogoversary Bash Bonanza Giveaway!

Swag Pack #2:

US Only, ends 9/30

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Waiting On Wednesday (103)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: The Here and Now

Author: Ann Brashares

Expected Publication Date: April 8, 2014

Synopsis:

Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love.
 
Thrilling, exhilarating, haunting, and heartbreaking, The Here and Now is a twenty-first-century take on an impossible romance. Ann Brashares’ first novel for teens since The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is about a girl from the future who might be able to save the world . . . if she lets go of the one thing she’s found to hold on to.
 
Meet seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins. 
 
Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth. But everything changes when she falls for Ethan Jarves.

I've only read one other book by Brashares, My Name is Memory, but I enjoyed it quite a bit. Years later, I am still waiting on the sequel, although it doesn't look like it will ever happen. But still, The Here and Now looks pretty excellent and right up my alley (although time travel science is not my friend). What can I say? I'm a sucker for forbidden love :)

Blog Tour: Find Me by Romily Bernard - Review & Giveaway

*Be sure to check out the Twitter Party for Find Me, tonight at 7pm(est), where copies of Find Me will be given away every TEN minutes! Follow the party host @novablogder*

Find Me

Romily Bernard

307 pages

Publisher: Harper Teen / Simon & Schuster UK

Release Date: September 24th, 2013

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Romance

Synopsis:

“Find Me.”

These are the words written on Tessa Waye’s diary. The diary that ends up with Wick Tate. But Tessa’s just been found . . . dead.

Wick has the right computer-hacking skills for the job, but little interest in this perverse game of hide-and-seek. Until her sister Lily is the next target.

Then Griff, trailer-park boy next door and fellow hacker, shows up, intent on helping Wick. Is a happy ending possible with the threat of Wick’s deadbeat dad returning, the detective hunting him sniffing around Wick instead, and a killer taunting her at every step?

Foster child. Daughter of a felon. Loner hacker girl. Wick has a bad attitude and sarcasm to spare.

But she’s going to find this killer no matter what.

Because it just got personal.

My Thoughts:

If you were a hacker, what would you do with your talents? Unfortunately for Wick, she has no choice but to put her hacking to work for her drug dealing father. She knows what will happen if she doesn't follow the rules and she isn't about to break them. Wick and her younger sister, Lily, have been living in fear of their father for years. Still struggling with the death of their mother, the girls are now living with Bren and Todd, foster parents, after their father escaped from police. They know that he will come for them eventually, and Wick is doing all that she can to keep Lily safe. Then the unthinkable happens. Wick's former friend has been found dead and her diary has mysteriously landed at her door, naming Lily as the next target of Tessa's killer. Now Wick is determined to find out who has their sights set on Lily and will stop at nothing to keep her sister safe.

The first thing that got my attention about Find Me was the cover. I didn't even need to read the synopsis to know that I needed to read this book. But once I did, it only made me that much surer that this book belonged in my hands. Man, was I right! This story opens with a punch when Wick discovers a detective snooping around her home at two in the morning. Detective Carson is playing a cruel game with Wick, trying to torture her into giving up information about her father's whereabouts. I didn't like this guy right away. He was creepy and a complete jerk, I knew he was going to be trouble.

Wick, on the other hand, is my kind of girl. Lonely and tortured at school, yet brilliant, she uses her hacking abilities to help wives and girlfriends check out their spouses' private lives and determine if they are being faithful or not. I can't deny that if I had Wick's talent that I wouldn't be doing the same thing. Who doesn't want to catch a cheater in the act? But more than that, Wick has a snarky personality and a deep love for her sister. She feels responsible for her and wants nothing more than to keep her safe. She uses her hacking as a way to make money for them to survive should they need to make a fast getaway. I felt sorry for her and the crappy situation she was dealt and was desperately hoping that things would work out for her.

And of course, there's the boy. There's always a boy, and Griff doesn't disappoint. Griff is keeping his own secrets, but that doesn't stop Wick from falling for him anyway. He sticks up for her when it could mean social suicide for him and goes out of his way to spend time with her. It doesn't hurt that he is handsome, either. But even so, Wick is wary of Griff's elusiveness and why he has set his sights on her.

Unfortunately, I figured out the ending of this book quite early. It didn't take me long at all to figure out who the killer was. But even though I knew, it didn't distract me from loving the story anyway. I couldn't wait to get to the big reveal and to see what was going to happen. In fact, I enjoyed this book so much that I read the entire thing in one sitting and still wanted more. I wouldn't be against hearing more about Wick and Lily in the future. 

Overall, Find Me was an excellent read. It was dark, creepy and had an excellently mysterious storyline. The budding relationship between Wick and Griff was pretty engaging too. I give this book four out of five stars! You can be sure that I will be reading anything and everything that Romily writes from this moment on. I highly recommend Find Me to anyone and everyone who loves Young Adult, mysteries or just plain old heart-thumping reads!

About Romily Bernard:

I graduated from Georgia State University with a Literature degree. Since then, I've worked as a riding instructor, cell phone salesgirl, personal assistant, groom, exercise rider, accounting assistant, and, during a very dark time, customer service rep.

So don’t let anyone tell you a BA degree will keep you unemployed.

WEBSITE: http://www.romilybernard.com

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Giveaway:

Details: (1) of (2) signed hardback copies of Find Me by Romily Bernard and Slapbands

(US ONLY)

Starts: 09/18/2013

Ends: 09/26/2013

*Question of the day: If you had Wick's hacking abilities,what would you do with them? Would you use them for good like Wick, or would you use them for your own interests?

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*I received this book for free in exchange of my honest review. This did not influence my opinion in any way and all views and opinions expressed are 100% my own.