Cover Reveal: Off Course

Title: Off Course

Author: Sawyer Bennett

Released: August 4, 2013

Genre: Contemporary

Age Group: New Adult

Cover designed by : Vitalink  

Renner Caldwell has her life perfectly mapped out. She has the ideal relationship, the perfect job and all is right in her world. When a shameful turn of events happens, she boards the first plane bound for Ireland to lick her wounds and get her head back on straight. Cillian O’Braidagh is the sexy, front man to the Irish rock band, Over The Edge. His rising fame and sultry voice make him every woman’s fantasy come true. Not to mention his single-minded determination. To put it simply: what Cillian wants, Cillian always gets. And he wants Renner, because there’s just something about the flame-haired beauty he has to possess. If their relationship was just about sex and rock n’ roll, it would be easy for them to get lost in their desires. Only their relationship is anything but a hook-up. Will lies, deceit and hidden tragedy get in the way, making the path to true love uncertain? Or will the girl whose been knocked Off Course, find her footing with the man who is teaching her it’s okay to lose control?    

About the Author
USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn't have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

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Review: A Really Awesome Mess

Title: A Really Awesome Mess
Author: Trish Cook, Brendan Halpin
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Released: 23rd July 2013
Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

On the surface, A Really Awesome Mess doesn't look like it has much to boast about.  And despite my love of contemporaries, it's not necessarily something that I would usually go for.  But there was a small part of me that was curious and, as often happens when it comes to me and books, that small spark of curiosity was enough to prompt me to read this.  Now I can say that I have absolutely no regrets, because this proved to cover a multitude of issues, present interesting character relationships and be completely hilarious all at once.

Welcome to Heartland Academy, a reform school in the middle of nowhere meant to deal with a whole range of mental health, emotional and other issues, from anger management to eating disorders to compulsive lying to addictions to suicidal tendencies and more.  In Heartland Academy we meet six key people - Emmy and Justin are the two protagonists, yet alongside them are four friends, and it is through all of these characters that Cook and Halpin explore such issues.  These were managed nicely so that they interwove together; while all these problems weren't explored in detail - indeed, there were too many of them for that to happen - it was still enough for me to appreciate them and what the characters were going through.  There were also layers created, particularly in Emmy's case: just when I thought I knew about her life and why she felt the way she did, I learned something else about her.

I thought the authors had also done a remarkable job with the characters in bringing them alive and making me connect with them all.  Admittedly I was annoyed at certain times, but the more I read the less this was so.  For me, the last third or so of the book was the strongest, at least in terms of character relationships.  I loved watching them all work together, encouraging each other to work past their issues and really come to be friends.  The plotline this took place around was undeniably ridiculous - several times I stopped to reflect on what exactly was happening and why these characters were working together - but it was so funny and actually not at all bothersome, that I just accepted it and read on.  I had this near-constant grin on my face, and I was content to just be along for the ride, however unlikely it was.

A Really Awesome Mess turned out to be a quick, almost surprisingly enjoyable read.  I usually like my books dark and emotional, yet this somehow turned out to be a mix of emotional and quite funny, one that was strangely compelling in this case.  I'm definitely glad I decided to give this one a go.

Waiting on Wednesday (#26)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming features we can't wait to get our hands off.  Here's mine for this week!

Title: Project Cain
Author: Geoffrey Girad
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young
Released: 3rd September 2013

Fifteen-year-old Jeff Jacobson had never heard of Jeffrey Dahmer, the infamous serial killer who brutally murdered seventeen people more than twenty years ago. But Jeff’s life changes forever when the man he’d thought was his father hands him a government file telling him he was constructed in a laboratory only seven years ago, part of a top-secret government cloning experiment called ‘Project CAIN’.

There, he was created entirely from Jeffrey Dahmer’s DNA. There are others like Jeff—those genetically engineered directly from the most notorious murderers of all time: The Son of Sam, The Boston Strangler, Ted Bundy . . . even other Jeffrey Dahmer clones. Some raised, like Jeff, in caring family environments; others within homes that mimicked the horrific early lives of the men they were created from.

When the most dangerous boys are set free by the geneticist who created them, the summer of killing begins. Worse, these same teens now hold a secret weapon even more dangerous than the terrible evil they carry within. Only Jeff can help track the clones down before it’s too late. But will he catch the ‘monsters’ before becoming one himself?

Whoa.  This sounds just the tiniest bit creepy with the geneticist, but I seriously want to read this and meet Jeff.  This sounds quite dark, and I have to say (because I can't seem to refrain myself at all anymore) that cover is just perfect.  So yes, I am in insta-lust with this one.

Let me know what you guys are counting down the days for this week!

Cover Reveal: Take Me Now

Hey, guys!  Today I'm super happy to be a part of the cover reveal for Faith Sullivan's Take Me Now!  I couldn't wait to see what this cover looked like, and as soon as I saw it I loved it.  Everything about it, from the models to the fonts to the shading, just work together.  What do you guys think?

 

 

Take Me Now (Take Me Now #1)

by Faith Sullivan

Release Date: 16th July 2013

Summary from Goodreads:

How do you survive the internship from hell?

 

Don't fall in love.

Ivy thought being a reporter-in-training at the Independent Gazette would be her dream summer job. Little did she know, interviewing Eric, a landscaper with a heart of gold, would derail her plans. It turns out Ivy's boss, Lauren, has been eying his chiseled physique for quite some time.

But at twenty-four, Eric already has a tragic past, one that he is still reeling from. Even though his ordeal turned him into some sort of local celebrity, it's been a while since he's shared his bed with anyone. When he comes to Ivy's rescue out of the blue, it's not long before the two of them start seeing each other behind Lauren's back. When they get caught, Ivy's journey toward a college degree is jeopardized and her relationship with Eric is severely put to the test.

Career versus love? In the end, a shocking turn of events provides Ivy with a revelation she never saw coming.

Get to know Erik and Ivy!

***Author Links***

   

Review: After Eden

Title: After Eden (After Eden #1)
Author: Helen Douglas
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books
Released: 7th November 2013 (first published 4th July 2013)
Rating: 3 of 5 stars

When new boy Ryan Westland starts at her school, Eden knows there's something different about him, and it's not that he's American.  He seems like a normal teenager, except for the fact that he doesn't seem to be able to recognise basic things, like pizza. And he's never heard of Hitler.  Who hasn't heard of Hitler?  Little things like that create the one big mystery that is Ryan.  But these are things that can be explained away, however unlikely.  Eden and Ryan gradually spend more and more time together, soon becoming fast friends and then something more.  But at Ryan's house, Eden discovers an autobiography of her best friend...and it's from the future.  Piecing things together, she discovers who Ryan really is and why he is there.  The truth is more shocking than she could have realised, and she herself plays an integral part.

After Eden made for a quick, entertaining read.  It had a simple writing style which flowed easily, although I noticed that it mainly comprised of dialogue.  It was not a particularly deep read, and the time travel side of it was not difficult to understand.  I appreciated the astrological references to help boost the sci-fi theme, and it generally made for interesting reading.  One thing this book really was good at was pointing out how one small thing can affect everything else.  When I read the prologue, I didn't understand the significance of it; I didn't understand what it was supposed to tell me or do for me as a reader.  Later, however, when I had more information, I understood what that scene meant, and it really makes you think about how much impact one simple choice, or one simple moment, can have.  I wouldn't say this is a particularly plot-driven novel, however.  The pace was, for the most part, easy-going, only really building up towards the end.

The characters were decent enough, but forgettable.  I really did think the romance between Ryan and Eden sweet, and I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop.  Having said that, there was nothing to make them stand out.  With Eden's character, my feelings for her actually bordered on dislike at times.  I didn't care for the way she was behaving simply because she was around a good-looking guy, and she was in denial over a fact that was painfully obvious; I wish she'd just step up and acknowledge the truth.  This brings me to her relationship with her best friend, Connor - really, it was a trio of close friends: Eden, Connor and Megan.  The bonds between them here were inconsistent, made little sense and seemed to change for no apparent reason.  Aside from the fact that Eden and Connor had known each other since they were young children, I didn't understand why they were friends.  And then, finally, there was the cleaner - someone related to Ryan's time travel mission, whose job it is to make sure things are as they should be and there is no trouble in any shape or form. I worked out who it was before anyone else - although no-one seemed to actually try and work it out - and again here was a change in character - one I really didn't see as necessary.  It was like the author was trying to create an obvious villain and make us root for Eden, yet it just came across as messy.  I can't really be clearer than that without giving anything away.

Douglas has made a decent effort here with her novel, and it was easy enough to read it in one sitting.  The romance was sweet, the plot undemanding.  If what you're looking for is something quick or simple, then this is one to consider.  But there is no substance, nothing that will really make you connect with anyone, no real reason for you to remember this after reading it.  I would recommend this only as a filler book, something to pass the time; somehow it makes for quite a readable book, but it certainly isn't one of the better sci-fi novels out there.

Review: Playing Tyler

Title: Playing Tyler
Author: T. L. Costa
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Released: 2nd July 2013
Rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have absolutely no idea where or how to start this review, since T. L. Costa seems to have robbed me of my ability to think, so I'm just going to jump right in and say this book was wonderful.  It completely took me by surprise.  I looked at this and I thought videogames, which is fine, since I read Ready Player One and loved it, even though it was completely - completely - out of my comfort zone.  Playing Tyler is not so far out, but enough that I was hoping this would work for me.  And of course I had expectations. What I did not expect, however, was for this to be as deep and emotional and explorative as it was.

Tyler has ADHD and consequently has difficulty focusing on things.  His only real strength is playing videogames, but he knows that this isn't exactly going to get him very far in life.  As well as that worry he's got to look after his older brother Brandon, who once again is in rehab for taking heroin.  When his mother's at home he's looking after her, too, since the death of Tyler's dad hit her hard.  Things look up when Rick, his Civilian Air Patrol Mentor and the only person he can count on, provides him with a game to beta test.  It's a flight simulation, one that would actually be used in training pilots if it works out.  If he scores high enough, Tyler gets to go to flight school and possibly have a career doing the one thing in life he most wants to: flying.  Then he meets Ani, the game's designer, and it seems like maybe his life won't be a disaster after all.  But that's before he discovers that there's much more to the game than he first thought, and before his brother goes missing.  Now it's not a question of what he's going to do with his future.  It's a question of whether he's going to live that long at all.

I may as well say now, the writing style here is probably going to be very hit or miss, I think because it's specifically meant to show us Tyler's thoughts as a person with ADHD.  For some it works and for others I know it doesn't.  For me, it was brilliant.  It allowed me to truly appreciate Tyler's difficulty with keeping a single, focused train of thought, and with actually being able to verbalise those thoughts.  But even aside from that, he was an extremely tough and likeable character, and one I felt a lot of sympathy for.  His mother, at the very least, is the one who is meant to be looking out for him, yet instead it's the other way around; it takes her far too long to realise where she should be focusing her attention.  And as for Brandon, well, he was as much of a disappointment, if not more, and it was only towards the end that he decided to step up and do something for his brother - although I'm still not sure that it wasn't just a cop-out for him.  There is a lot of focus on character and relationships in this book, making it one that actually brought out a lot of emotion in me.  The only issue I had in this area was Tyler's reaction to Ani when he first met her: I got that she was someone he admired for her position in the gaming world, that she was someone who understood him and who he could communicate with relatively easily; I just think that it could have been taken a bit slower.  But otherwise theirs was a sweet relationship.

Of course there was the videogame aspect as well, and all the technical details that brought.  Costa brought alive an intriguing plotline, which would no doubt actually be something possible in real life, a scary thought when you discover the truth of the game.  I appreciated the layers there were to it, so that when I thought I understood what was happening, other elements were added, and it was these that also reinforced a character issue and vice versa, making it all the more relevant to Tyler and therefore the reader.  The full import of what the realities of the simulation meant was conveyed clearly, as was the danger that Tyler and Ani are in when they discover the truth.  The last section of the book really emphasised this; it was the ending that was the most action-packed and had me absolutely refusing to put it down until I reached that last sentence.  There was a lot of urgency and the pace quickened to fulfil that, and it really meant that this book ended on a superb note.

Playing Tyler was so much more than I expected.  With only minor flaws, this was an absorbing read that realised both the need for plot and character investment.  Going into this I truly had no idea that it would be so emotional and with such serious issues.  I can see how this isn't for everyone, but I feel T. L. Costa has added something worthwhile to the YA market, and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more work from her.

Review: The Testing

Title: The Testing (The Testing #1)
Author: Joelle Charbonneau
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Released: 4th June 2013
Rating: 3 of 5 stars

It took me a while to have any sort of firm grasp on what I thought of this book, because it really was a mix for me.  The reviews for this were mixed, so I didn't really know what to expect going in, and then the book itself seemed to reflect all of those different thoughts, leaving me uncertain as to what exactly I made of this.  But after thinking on it, it seems to me a solid read, even if flawed.

Cia wants nothing more than to be chosen as a Testing candidate so she can go to the University, get a better education and come out with a successful career that will help rebuild their destroyed planet.  And when she is selected as a candidate, she's ecstatic.  This is short-lived, however, when her dad speaks to her the night before she leaves, warning her that this isn't the great opportunity she thinks it is, and that she must trust no-one.  Cia thinks on her father's words constantly, newfound suspicion arising in her as she looks at those around her.  Gradually she realises that he is right, that nothing is what it seems and that everything and everyone is too sinister to be trusted.  But there must be some people she can trust - someone, surely?  If not anyone else, what about the person she's falling in love with?

It took me a little while to really get into this, as I felt disconnected from the writing.  While nothing was technically wrong with it, it just seemed to fall flat for me.  This did, however, improve throughout the course of the book; though by the end it was no means perfect, it was enough for me to feel more connected with the plot and with the characters.  The world-building itself allowed me to get a clear image of the world Cia was living in, and how it had come to be that way, although I feel this could have been more smoothly done, since there was some info-dump.  Yet I did like the idea of The Testing and the need to pass it before being allowed into the University.  One of the things that stand out most to me about it is that it comprises of both an academic and a practical element.  I can't really think of a dystopia I've read where they've had to sit down and do hours worth of exams, which is part of what Cia and her fellow candidates had to do, and is actually something that we can relate to.  This was then balanced with practical tasks of various natures, until finally the main part of The Testing, the real test that they all need to pass, the one that most challenges the question of their survival.  I have to admit, this did feel like The Hunger Games - but since I'm one of the extremely rare people who were disappointed with The Hunger Games, this wasn't a problem.  In fact - and here's where I really may lose a few (alright, a lot) friends - I'd go so far as to say this was better.  Yes, that's what I said.  Go on, then.  Off you go.  I'll just talk to myself now.

What I really feel The Testing would benefit from is more characterisation.  Cia was a decent enough character, very resourceful, actually, which I really appreciated...but there could have been more.  More development and more about her that would have enabled me to really root for her and connect with her.  The same with Tomas.  For this reason the romance between them didn't work for me. Their characters weren't present enough, weren't vivid or real enough; I didn't understand what they saw in each other, why they were in this relationship.  I didn't feel any spark or chemistry.  This need for more did not apply to all the characters - there was one who particularly surprised me because his true nature was not actually what I thought it was; and I definitely got a sense of ruthlessness and danger from the staff, especially with certain tasks.  Michal, too, became something of a favourite.  There were some characters and events linked to them that did have me feeling emotion.  I just wish this could have extended to the protagonist and her love interest.

The Testing, all in all, is by no means a bad book. It has flaws which, for me, cannot allow a complete enjoyment of the book, yet I did want to keep reading.  I did want to see what happened and what the outcome would be.  And I do certainly want to read the sequel.  To anyone still reading this review (and I'd be very surprised), if you're still not sure about this, I would encourage you to check out what other people have said, since, as I mentioned before, this is one there seems to be a lot of debate over.