YA – Z. Elizabeth

ARC: Still Point (#3) – Katie Kacvinsky

Posted on August 18, 2014July 18, 2014 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

In the final installment to the trilogy begun with “Awaken, ” Maddie returns home to make her final stand against Digital School, and uncovers deeply guarded secrets about her family an new truths about herself.

5 out of 5 Stars

2012 review of Awaken
2013 review of Middle Ground

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My Review

Parents show you life is a paved road. Friends show you the road isn’t there yet, its waiting for you to carve it out. Parents show you life is a handbook, with rules set in place. Friends show you how to break the rules you’re handed.

*ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I first read Awaken back in 2012. I was captivated by this dystopian novel because it spoke truth. It’s about a digital era where everyone hides behind a computer, too afriad to go outside and converse face-to-face. And it got me thinking about right now. How we are all attached to our phones and computers and anything else that is digital and means you don’t have to speak to anyone in person. I used to look around the train station on the way to work and count how many were on their phones. It was nearly everyone, including myself. And I think that’s why I became attached to this series, that and because it is amazing. It has so much depth into the storyline, it evolves at every turn and you become fascinated about the characters, the digitalisation of everything, of where Katie is going to take you.

I’m not one for reading YA. It takes my fancy every now and again but this is one series I pined over. For each book released, I have been anxious for them to release so I can get my next fix of Justin and Maddie, the next chapter in the Digital world and how everything will or wont play out.

Still Point is the third and final book in the Awaken and holy crap, it’s full of twists and shocks. I cant even give you a brief overview without spoiling the story, Let’s just say, it shocked me; I was not expecting anything of what happened, to happen in book three!

After the slight cliffy in Middle Ground, I was waiting to see what Maddie was going to do. And although her decision is one I didn’t think would happen, I was proud of her for doing it. She has always been up against her father, fighting against his creation since she was fifteen and she wants to destroy the digital world, wanting people to actually talk face-to-face, go to school in a classroom, and just spend time together without a computer screen in front of them.

I was proud of her for pushing and seeing it through. Although my heart pained when you could see her dilemma about her dad, about Justin, about her feelings, about how she just didn’t know what to do anymore. I felt so sorry for her, because Justin is obsessed with taking down the digital world and yes, Maddie wants it too, but she wants to be at the top of the list, not third or forth and you could see it did effect her to be pushed down the list. You watch her fight against herself, dig deep into her soul and watch her see exactly what she really wants; from herself and from her life. And yes, I was just a little bit shocked at her choice but you know what, I could definitely see it. And I really want to write more about that, but I cant. It will spoil it all so I will just smile to myself and mentally high-five Maddie for taking charge of her life and making the right choice – for her!

Also the tattoo makes an awful lot of sense now. I have read Maddie’s tattoo, the short novella about how she got her tattoo and how it came about. We also meet the guy who designed it, Jax and he is swoon worthy. I really liked him. And that’s all I am saying on him haha. You need to find out about him throughout this book. It was a push and pull situation and I was in the middle not knowing what to do.

Justin’s whole life is taking down the DS (Digital Schools) and DC’s (Detention centers). It goes 1) Destroying DS 2) Maddie and although I completely love Justin; he’s passionate and determined and completely focused on the plan at hand, DS would always be his number one, no matter how much he wants to be with Maddie. And picking and choosing is a hard decision, when your heart wants both.

I loved how selfless he was at the end though. How he actually put Maddie’s feelings first for once. He wanted to see her happy and not sad and broken over him and I felt proud of him for doing what he did, even if I wasn’t expecting it. He has gone through so much in his life – with fighting against DS, recruiting members and then falling for Maddie but when the time came, her happiness definitely meant more to him and although I was shocked at how it ended, it was kind of perfect for Justin too. He got what he had always wanted and he fought the hard way to get there but he deserved it after the hard work he has put in year after year.

I would love to see a little novella about him, Katie. Hint hint;) I think it would be amazing to see him after Still Point or even before Awaken, how he began to be so passionate about taking down the DS and finding Maddie. To be honest, I am being greedy and want more Justin haha.

There are a lot of twists and turns throughout Still Point – many had me gasping and eyes wide open. I was not expecting any of the things to happen. And I love that! I loved that everything I thought I knew during the first two books, just completely messed me over and it wasn’t all that it seemed. But it completely made sense, and I trusted that Katie knew what she were doing and it worked! I also was not expecting that ending. Not after everything that happened in Awaken and Middle Ground. But as I said, it made sense. And I really want to blab about what happened, but I know I cant. I need someone else to read this book so I can talk about it because, man, I NEED to talk about it. I need to know someone else was like “Oh holy crap” and “Oh holy crap, I cant believe Justin did that, but bless him.” SEE, I’m being vague, but you will understand when you get the chance to read this book.

If you haven’t had the chance to get acquainted with this series, I demand that you do. It is one of my favourite dystopian series because, really, it could happen.

Divergent series – Veronica Roth

Posted on May 1, 2014May 1, 2014 by Z. Elizabeth

Divergent Synopsis

In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue–Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is–she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are–and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she’s chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she’s kept hidden from everyone because she’s been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

5 out 5 stars!

Insurgent Synopsis

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris’s initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

4 out of 5 stars

Allegiant Synopsis

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

3 out of 5 stars

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My Review

I’d been meaning to read the Divergent series for months now. I hate going to see a book film adaptation without reading the book, so when the release day was nearing, I got to reading the series (and maybe just a little bit persuade by Holly to begin it too). This review will be about the three books, seeing as I just continually read one after the other, and to be honest, with so much packed into each book, what happened in which book is kind of a blur. So bare with me on this one, it may be a bumpy road in terms of this review haha.

If you haven’t heard of the Divergent series, firstly, where have you been? And secondly, you do know the film is out right? Anyway, for those who don’t know, the series revolves around a young woman called Beatrice. She is in Abnegation, one of the five factions in her ‘city’. Her faction are known as the ‘Stiffs’, for obvious reasons, and they are selfless, always helping and putting other first. When you are 16, you take a test to determine which faction you ‘belong to’ and thus at the choosing ceremony you can either stay with your faction or move faction, depending on the results of your test. For Beatrice her tests are inconclusive which means she is a Divergent and that is dangerous.

On choosing day she has a tough decision, stay with her family or be who she truly is and change factions. She changes and that day changes the rest of her life…and thus begins a romance, a war and a lot of trying to stay alive and keep the ones she loves alive, even if it means dealing with the consequences of her actions and hurting the ones she loves too.

I really liked Beatrice/Tris as a heroine. We first meet her, she is clumsy, Abnegation is all she knows but deep down she knows she is different and when she finds out she is Divergent and chooses the Dauntless, that is when her life changes for the best and worst. We watch her grow up so much throughout the book, from a timid and intrigued young women to a strong and fearless young women.

She pushes herself to the limits and you actually feel proud of her. She really is a Dauntless fighter, so brave and fearless and stupid at times, but that is what makes Tris, Tris. She truly is Divergent and the more we know about her, the more you can see that. She had bits of each faction in her, bits that save her life time and time again but bits that also put her in danger. We watch her grief, we watch her sacrifice but most of all, she does this to protect the ones she loves, protects those who cant protect themselves really. She puts herself out there and although they come with consequences, you know that Abnegation has and will always be implanted in her. To make her selfless in terms of what she does.

I liked knowing she was in love with Four. I did like these two together. They brought out the best and worst at times but over the books, I just wanted Tris to let Four go. Although I felt bad for him, because Tris didn’t trust easily with strangers and thought things through, Four jumped straight in and this was the cause for nearly every argument – that and Tris’ death wish. But how it ended between them, my heart was skipping and I knew it really was the end. Over the three books you are not only invested in the storyline, but in Tris and Four too and my head kind of bleed when it was all over.

I had a theory about Tris in Allegiant. This theory was that deep down she was still Abnegation and she was selfless and when I turned the page and got to the part that everyone is majorly pissed at, I felt a bit of pride for actually being right about it. I knew what happened in Allegiant as before reading them, I wasn’t going to, and my friend Anna Bloom told me what happened (She refuses to read the book hahah) I just didn’t know how it happened. But to be honest with you, I didn’t feel anything towards what happened. It really is for shock value, and it could have ended up differently in my opinion, but then fair enough on Veronica, she wanted to rock the boat and make us see that not everything can have a happy ending. I’m trying hard not to give away what happens so I’m going to keep my mouth zipped now.

This is a little bit controversial because so many people adore Four/Tobias. I actually really liked him in Divergent. He is strong, a bit of a leader, keeps to himself (because of his Divergence) but when Tris comes along after the Choosing Ceremony, she seemingly puts him in a spin. Despite being a bit of a wanker towards her, you can see he is trying to help her through initiation, knows she is Divergent and wants to protect her from the people wanting to kill them. He opens up himself to her, takes her in his fear landscape – which he has never shown nor taken anymore before – and you can see a romance brewing between them. You can see she has effected him and they are both great together – they both have the need to fight, to be together, to protect each other from the war brewing and you know that one cannot live without the other.

BUT, this is a massive but, as the series went on, my love for Four turned into annoyance, turned into dislike, especially in Allegiant where I wanted to smack him nearly every page.

I did sob my heart out for the last few chapters. I was texting Anna Bloom about the event that takes place and when Four arrives, the floodgates opened and I didn’t stop crying until the very end. Even after it was the in the front of my mind, replaying. Despite not being a fan of the end, I don’t think there could have been another way to end it – unless Veronica didn’t write that massive event in.

I just cant wait to see how this all pans out in the film versions. There is so much that happens that I’m hoping they do a great job in portraying as much as they can, as accurately as they can in Insurgent and Allegiant. Here’s to the next films!

Book Tours, YA

BOOK TOUR: Freaks – Lisa M. Forester

Posted on November 29, 2013November 28, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Check out my 5 STAR review!!

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Synopsis

Nobody’s perfect… or are they?

Abigail always knew that she was different, but what she didn’t know was just how different.

That was until her 16th birthday, when her parent’s revealed a devastating secret that confirmed her worst fears and changed her life forever.

Abigail is an Allelobrid: one of five children born as a result of their parents illegal science experiment in genetic engineering. The aim: to create a perfect human.

Yet perfection comes at a price.

Forced into a life on the run, Abigail finds love, danger and an organisation that will stop at nothing to get what they want.

When lives are at risk and freedom is threatened – could being perfect be enough to survive?

5 out of 5 stars!

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My Review

Firstly, I would like to say what an awesome debut Freaks is. Seriously now, I was hooked right from the start. The synopsis is enough to make me want to read the book and it really is a page turner, I didn’t want to put it down and I wouldn’t have if I didn’t have to go to that thing called work. It was all I thought about, and I couldn’t wait to leave work and curl up in bed to finish off Abigail’s story.

Lisa has included everything I love in a book. A great story line packed of adventure and action and of course, a bit of romance thrown into it for good measure. I hardly ever read YA, no less Sci-Fi YA, but I was so glad to put now my smutty books and indulged in Freaks. It’s the perfect spice to add to the mixture of leaving begin NA for a little while.

For a debut, in my opinion, Lisa has it spot-on. Her characters all have their own personality, they all shine in their own ways and of course, that is what you expect from a story, and you cant help but love and hate the characters you are ‘supposed’ to. The story develops each time you turn a page and as I told you, I was hooked, wanting to know who the other Allelobrids or as Abbie calls them ‘Freaks’ were, where they were from, why they had to go on the run and when you get to these scenes, you want to know how their lives are going to turn out – will they have to keep on running or be out of danger at last from the people who want them. Well, you’ll have to wait and see, but there is a book two coming out! THANK GOD because that ending killed me.

Freaks is about, well five freaks. Abigail is a super ‘human’, her parents designed her to never get ill, to be super smart, to be athletic…basically the perfect ‘human being.’ On her 16^th birthday, her parents tell her the truth about herself, that she was illegally made in America, made to perfection but now they are in hiding as the head of the experiment wants to kidnap all five of them to perform experiments on them. So they fled.

Abigail goes in search of what ‘Allelobrids’ are but despite how smart she is, she’s made one mistake. One email turns to conversations and finding the other three Allelobrids but what starts out as wanting to know who and where the others are, ends up with her running away to save someone, which in turn puts herself and others in danger. Along the way, she faces danger, meets the other Allelobrids and finds love with Max, another Allelobrid. What starts out as an adventure, may end in disaster.

I really really liked Abbie. Not one for friends, she just exists in school. People leave her alone and her only friend is gay…he just hasn’t told her yet. After finding out all about herself and finding the others, she feels inadequate to them – they are all modified to be gorgeous, to look like supermodels and Abbie feels average but that is what makes her special…especially to Max who would rather be average than supermodelly. Abbie is spunky and strong willed but she doesn’t give herself credit to this part of her. It’s cut off but when faced with danger, she puts herself forward to be the one in charge of the three of them, she risks her life to save Dylan – the last Allelobrid who is in captive and walks straight into the factory where he and the person who wants them, is situated.

You watch Abbie grow, you watch her come out of her shell, take charge – something she would never do – watch her risk her life for the other guys and of course, watch her fall for Max. Their friendship / relationship was so cute to read and watch unfold. From being the first two to find each other, the first ones to meet and then to go in a limbo of their feelings coming out, you could see that Max adores Abbie, that he wanted to be the one to risk his life for them, but Abbie stood her ground and how Max and Abbie fell asleep holding hands…oh god, my heart was bursting for them.

The action was constantly there, the fear but courage of Abbie was admirable, the way she communicated with Dylan and let him know that he was going to be saved and safe, along with his parents warmed my heart and how they all stuck together to help him, making plans to get Dylan and his parents out, how to get rid of the bad guy and not live in fear anymore. But nothing is ever simple….

I, for one, really enjoyed Freaks. For a first novel, it is one that should be given a read and if you are like me and just read the same genre, its refreshing to read another genre and I was glad this was another YA book that I loved.

Please give me Book two soon though Lisa…I NEED to know what in the hell is going to happen after an ending like THAT!

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About Lisa

Lisa M Forester is the author of ‘Freaks’ – a Young Adult fiction novel that is due to be released on the 28th November 2013.

She has lived on a diet of books since she was six (when she was handed an Enid Blyton story for the very first time) and she constantly lives in hope that reading will become an Olympic sport. After being inspired to write by the plethora of amazing YA writers that exist across the globe, she put pen to paper and produced ‘Freaks’ – which I am sure she would very much love you to read.

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Contact Lisa

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7265813.Lisa_M_Forester

Twitter: @lisamforester

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Buy Freaks

Amazon || Amazon UK

Cover Reveal, YA

COVER REVEAL: Freaks – Lisa M. Forester

Posted on October 1, 2013September 30, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

TITLE: Freaks
AUTHOR: Lisa M. Forester
GENRE: Young Adult
RELEASE DATE: 28th November 2013
Cover designed by Steven Honey

SYNOPSIS:

Nobody’s perfect… or are they?

Abigail always knew that she was different, but what she didn’t know was just how different.

That was until her 16th birthday, when her parent’s revealed a devastating secret that confirmed her worst fears and changed her life forever.

Abigail is an Allelobrid: one of five children born as a result of their parents illegal science experiment in genetic engineering. The aim: to create a perfect child.

Yet perfection comes at a price.

Forced into a life on the run, Abigail finds love, danger and an organisation that will stop at nothing to get what they want.

When lives are at risk and freedom is threatened – could being perfect be enough to survive?

AUTHOR BIO:

Lisa M. Forester is a Young Adult fiction author living in the North West of England and her debut novel ‘Freaks’ is due for release on the 26th of November 2013.

AUTHOR LINKS:

http://www.goodreads.com/LisaMForester
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18484653-freaks
http://lisamforester.wix.com/books
@lisamforester

L.M Augustine, New Adult

Two Roads – L.M Augustine

Posted on September 5, 2013September 3, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

The only person poetry-loving Cali Monroe hates more than herself is Logan Waters, the geeky kid who lives in the dorm building next to hers.

Ever since Cali’s parents told her she would amount to nothing, she has felt entirely inadequate. Friendless and alone, she takes on the mean girl role in hopes it will make her feel better–and Logan serves as the perfect target. He infuriates her with his obnoxiously long lashes, his all too perfect dimpled smile, and his complete lack of personality outside of his intelligence. It doesn’t hurt that he’s part of the reason her brother is dead, either. So Cali hates him, and he returns the favor. Thus, their prank-filled, insult-driven rivalry is born, and torturing Logan quickly becomes the highlight of her life.

But when Cali’s parents set them up on a blind date, she begins to realize Logan might not be as boring as she always thought. He shares her love of poetry, takes a sadistic pleasure in making fun of crepes, and he makes her blush when he calls her smile pretty.

And hey, maybe those long lashes of his aren’t that obnoxious after all…

Two Roads is New Adult Romance about finding love, standing out, and learning to embrace who you are. It contains some language and mild sexual content.

4 / 5 Stars

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My Review

*I’d like to thank L.M for an EArc copy of Two Roads in exchange for an honest review*

Since Click To Subscribe, which can I say I ABSOLUTELY LOVED, was released, I have been highly anticipating L.M’s next book, Two Roads. I was lucky enough to dedicate a week on my blog to L.M which ended in a teaser from Two Roads. It was small enough to make me excited for this book.

When I saw Two Roads in my inbox, I quickly finished my book just so I could demolish his book and become engrossed in Logan and Cali’s hatred for one another, the fun and awesome pranks they play on each other and the pain they both feel for Cali’s deceased brother.

It is L.M’s first venture into the NA genre and one that he obviously should not worry about because he nailed it to a T. I literally devoured the whole book in a day and constantly tweeted my love for it….and how I always seemed to be crying. Seriously, even at parts that weren’t even sad I was crying. But as I say, if a book makes me cry, then it’s a great one and Two Roads definitely should be on your TBR list. So just go on put it on their now, because you will regret not reading it otherwise.

You will giggle, smile, cry, swoon, shout at your kindle for the two of them to just get together and also draw your own conclusion on some of the things happening throughout the book – I know I certainly did. L.M’s writing really is fresh – he adds in humour, fun nerdy words and a romance mixed in with great pranks, emotional scenes and he makes you feel and become a part of the story. You care about Logan and Cali.

Cali hasn’t been herself for over four years, not since her brother’s death. Her parents aren’t supportive in her career choice and want her to work for them so she has a love/hate relationship with them. When she gets to college, she spots the one guy she has hated for years – her best friends brother Logan. That is where the pranks begin

My heart went out to Cali. Once an outgoing girl, she is now pretending to be someone she is not, someone who ‘sleeps around’ and acts like a complete bitch, but it’s a façade she’s hiding behind to stop the pain and grief and guilt she is constantly feeling about her brother’s death. The only thing that makes her happy is reading/writing poetry, and of course Logan; but only when she is pulling amazing pranks on him. That is when she also feels alive.

I really enjoyed her journey. Her journey with finding her true self, finding love, finding forgiveness, and most of all letting go of all the guilt she had locked inside. There was this one scene that cut me deep and all the floodgates opened. It’s where you see her accept everything in her life, see her forgive and embrace herself, her true self, with no hiding anymore. You feel proud of her for getting this far and for Logan being there throughout it all.

Now Logan. Geeky maths boy who wears geeky math tops and drinks cold hot chocolate. For a maths boy, he is kind of a ladies man, and I know I would be swooning after him – well I was throughout the book. He was Cali’s brother’s best friend and he, just as much as Cali, suffered with pain, grief and guilt over his death, but he too, learnt to keep it locked away and act like he is now fine. When Cali first gives him crap, he seems this as an opportunity to keep an eye on her so he retaliates and shows how much he ‘hates’ her too.

He’s a secret poetry lover and when he and Cali are put together on a blind date, that’s when they begin to talk, no pranks, just talk and he finds out that Cali loves poetry too. There is this convention that month and Cali is umming and ahhing about going, so he does whatever he can to make her go with him. Pulling pranks, texting her constantly until she goes with him.

That weekend is what changes everything for the both of them.

Logan is really sweet. He’s caring and lovely and so freaking funny with the pranks and the texts to Cali. No matter how much he ‘hated’ Cali, it was clear to see just how much he loved her and would do anything to make her happy – the pranks obviously did. But he wanted her to stop the anger, let go of the guilt she felt and be herself, and that’s why he wanted to keep her in eyesight and in his life, even If it meant doing to pranks on her.

Despite the ‘hate’, the romance was sweet and you really root for both of them to get together, so when Logan told Cali what he did, you just want to hug the crap out of him and be like “I KNEW IT LOGAN, I BLOODY KNEW YOU HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.” Ohhh what an utter babe he was.

I really liked seeing both Cali and Logan happy in the end. Although it was inevitable how the ending would happen, it was a great journey to get to where they go to!

I loved the theme of poetry. I admit, I am never going to be one for poetry, but L.M actually made me interested in it, in the poems mentioned and used in Two Roads. Made me understand about poetry and the meanings that are and could be behind the words. So I’m still not a fan, but thank you L.M for highlighting the importance of poetry in Two Roads, I loved how it brought Logan and Cali together.

I also loved all the pranks that Cali and Logan devised up for each other, they were pure entertaining and funny and you could see just how much Cali needed to do this to Logan. And despite the one prank that went waaay too far and actually hurt them both in what Cali did, the rest of them were funny and childish and exactly what awesome pranks should be. Something tells me L.M is a master in pranks…. Remind me never to get on the wrong side of him 😉

So if you are looking for a book full of pranks, poetry, two people who hate each other but secretly love each other but can’t admit it due to the past then Two Roads is definitely a book worth reading. You should really invest your time reading it, because you won’t be disappointed at all!

Guest Reviews, Nyrae Dawn

GUEST REVIEW: Facade (#2) – Nyrae Dawn by Ella Fox

Posted on August 2, 2013July 29, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

My guest reviewer this time around is Ella Fox, the lovely author whose books include The Hart Family and the Renegade Saints series.

Here is her review of Facade by Nyrae Dawn 🙂

Synopsis

From bestselling author, Nyrae Dawn, comes Book 2 in her New Adult, “Games” Series!

Can love save them?

After her father commits a crime that shatters her family, eighteen-year-old Delaney Cross is tired of pretending everything is alright. Packing up her car, she sets out to find the people her father hurt. Her search leads her to places she’s never been–and into the arms of Adrian Westfall.

To the outside world, Adrian is a sexy, charming ladies man. But his playboy persona is just an act. Secretly his soul is tortured by a memory too painful to share. Only Delaney seems to see through his façade to the real man underneath. And for the first time in his life, Adrian feels he can begin to open up about his past.

Together, Adrian and Delaney share a passionate, carefree love they never expected to find. Yet both still harbor their own secrets. When the dark truth is finally revealed, will it bring them closer together, or tear them apart forever?

My rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

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Ella’s Review

I absolutely adored book 1 in the “Games” series, “Charade.” As the story came to it’s conclusion, I was hoping that Adrian would be getting a book of his own. When I found out that he was; I was thrilled! Nyrae can weave a tale like nobodies business. Her stories make their way into your heart and set up camp, permanently.

My advice before beginning a “Games” book is to have some tissues ready. Going into this book I thought that there was no way that I would have as emotional of a reaction/connection to Façade as I did with Charade. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Both stories are dynamic and beautiful, each a journey that won’t soon be forgotten.

Façade is, at its base, a story about growth, forgiveness and redemption. Delaney is a girl that feels things very deeply. Her father is in jail and her mother is an abusive suicidal terror. Although Delaney is done with her father, she continues to try to save her mother. The heartbreaking thing is that her mother treats her like garbage

and makes the situation that much worse. The one family member who cares about Delaney is her brother, Maddox. He’s there for her but is fighting his own demons, things that she doesn’t know about.

With things as bad as they are, Delaney hopes that if she can find the people that had their lives ruined by her fathers actions, the suffering within her own family will end.

Delaney is easily able to find the ‘mother’ of the boy that was killed. Meeting Angel is cathartic for them both and they really open up to each other. During the course of their meeting Angel tells Delaney that Delaney’s father didn’t just killed Ashton that day- he took away her whole family because Angel’s brother wasn’t able to deal with it and he disappeared. Angel had an investigator find him and it turned out that Adrian was living four hours away, but Angel is unable to go to him because she knows that Adrian would run.

Getting into Adrian’s POV was gut wrenching. From the beginning it’s very clear that he holds himself totally accountable to Ash’s death. At the cemetery on the fourth anniversary of Ash’s death, Adrian sits in his car and watches his sister cry over his grave… but doesn’t go to her because he thinks that she must hold him responsible.

Pain grabs a hold of me, threatens to pull me under, and for the millionth time I wonder why I don’t let it. It would be so much easier than walking around in the masks I do now.

Delaney makes a radical choice and decides to move to where Adrian is. Destiny plays a little trick the day that she moves in when she meets Adrian, but doesn’t know who he is.

Later that night, she meets him again when he shows up at the diner she’s working in. There’s an attraction there on both sides from the get-go. When he tells her his name, she’s stunned.

Their relationship develops from there. Adrian is hiding behind pot and parties because he doesn’t want to feel anything, while Delaney is keeping one key piece of information about herself from him.

Adrian has never told anyone about Ash and Delaney tells no one about her father. Although they begin by keeping these secrets from each other, their relationship is real. He sees that she’s in pain and nicknames her ‘little ghost’. They let down their walls with each other- sometimes against their own will- and become something bigger.

There is so much to this story that I can’t share because it would be spoiler-ish and that’s not okay. Suffice it to say, these characters stole, then broke, then healed my heart.

I was so proud of Delaney for showing Adrian that he was a good man, and I was also proud of her for finally standing up to her mother and walking away.

As far as Adrian goes… I fell in love. Some of the deepest scars are internal and he survived something that a lot of people wouldn’t have been able to. Although he was drowning for four years, the core of him was still amazing. He just needed to learn to fight, to LIVE, and Delaney was able to push him in that direction. I cried my eyes out for him- from the shirt under his pillow to the handprint on his heart, Adrian had me- and I cried happy tears when he started to become the man that Ashton would have wanted him to be. When he lets it all out for Delaney, my heart skipped beats.

You helped me stop bleeding. You made my heart beat when I thought it was gone.

Seriously, how could you NOT fall in love with Adrian Westfall?

Next up in the “Games” series is Delaney’s brother Maddox’s story and I can’t wait. I spent a fair amount of time during this book wondering about what had happened to him and I’m anxious to get that book in my hands so that I can know.

I can’t recommend this series enough.

About Ella Fox

It seems I’ve had one story or another in my head since the day I was born. I’ve always had characters taking up space my brain, waiting to be “delivered.” Recently I decided to take the plunge, and what a journey it’s been!

I’m a romance girl. Always have been, always will be. My pet peeve is reading a romance novel that centers around a weak and spineless heroine. It’s insulting that as a society we fall for stereotypical female characters who bat their eyelashes, aren’t familiar or comfortable with their sexuality and who allow themselves to be railroaded by the men in the story.

I enjoy a heroine that sounds REAL. Women like you, like me, like my friends. Women who don’t take crap, who don’t accept emotional or mental abuse and who don’t automatically do whatever it is the man wants.

A GOOD relationship- even a relationship that includes BDSM- always involves two equals. It is true in life and it’s true in my books.

Author Links

Cover Reveal, L.M Augustine

COVER REVEAL: Two Roads – L.M Augustine (+Giveaway)

Posted on July 25, 2013July 25, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Two Roads by L.M. Augustine

Release date: August 26th, 2013

Category/Genre: New Adult Romance

Blurb:

The only person poetry-loving Cali Monroe hates more than herself is Logan Waters, the geeky kid who lives in the dorm building next to hers.

Ever since Cali’s parents told her she would amount to nothing, she has felt entirely inadequate. Friendless and alone, she takes on the mean girl role in hopes it will make her feel better–and Logan serves as the perfect target. He infuriates her with his obnoxiously long lashes, his all too perfect dimpled smile, and his complete lack of personality outside of his intelligence. It doesn’t hurt that he’s part of the reason her brother is dead, either. So Cali hates him, and he returns the favor. Thus, their prank-filled, insult-driven rivalry is born, and torturing Logan quickly becomes the highlight of her life.

And hey, maybe those long lashes of his aren’t that obnoxious after all…

Add it on Goodreads!

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~Cover designed by E.M. Tippetts Book Designs~

Giveaway:

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L.M Augustine, Promotional Events, Teaser Tuesday, YA

TEASER: Two Roads – L.M Augustine (+ GIVEAWAY)

Posted on July 12, 2013August 16, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

So this is the final stop and final post of the L.M Augustine week.

If you havent’ seen the posts from this week or are just looking at them now, you can check out my author interview HERE, my review HERE and West’s interview HERE. The go and buy Click to Subscribe 😉

NOW, L.M has been kind enough to give me a teaser from his upcoming NA book – Two Roads.

For those of you who have yet to hear or read the synopsis, here it is:-

The only person poetry-loving Cali Monroe hates more than herself is Logan Waters, the geeky kid who lives in the dorm building next to hers.

Ever since Cali’s parents told her she would amount to nothing, she has felt entirely inadequate. Friendless and alone, she takes on the mean girl role in hopes it will make her feel better–and Logan serves as the perfect target. He infuriates her with his obnoxiously long lashes, his all too perfect dimpled smile, and his complete lack of personality outside of his intelligence. So she begins hating him, and he returns the favor. Thus, their prank-filled, insult-driven rivalry is born, and torturing Logan quickly becomes the highlight of her life.

But when Cali’s parents set them up on a blind date, she begins to realize Logan might not be as boring as she always thought. He shares her love of poetry, takes a sadistic pleasure in making fun of crepes, and he makes her blush when he calls her smile pretty.

And hey, maybe those long lashes of his aren’t that obnoxious after all…

Two Roads is New Adult Romance about finding love, standing out, and learning to embrace who you are. It contains some language and mild sexual content.

Expected Release date: August 26th 2013

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AND NOW for the teaser 😀

ENJOYYYYYYY!!!

“In the immortal words of Edgar Allan Poe,” Logan says once the laughter subsides, “we’re fucked. And no,” he adds, winking at me, “I don’t mean ‘fucked’ in the sense that we are hopeless.”

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About L.M Augustine

L.M. Augustine is a YA romance author who is obsessed with writing about dorky teenagers, love, and happy endings. He currently lives in New England, where he spends far too much time reading books and screaming at his computer, and he believes that the solution to the world’s problems can be found in chocolate cake. Click To Subscribe is his first novel, but it won’t be his last.

Find L.M. on:

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

Email: authoraugustine@gmail.com

Links to buy Click To Subscribe (Which ya’ll should!)

Amazon

Amazon UK

Amazon CA

(And all other Amazon stores)

B&N

Kobo

iBooks
Smashwords

GIVEAWAAAAAAAAAAAY

And now for your chance to win TWO Ecopies of Click To Subscribe. It’s open internationally, so good luck!!

Rafflecopter Giveawayyyyy

L.M Augustine, Promotional Events, YA

CHARACTER INTERVIEW: West from Click To Subscribe (+GIVEAWAY)

Posted on July 11, 2013July 7, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

So this is the third post of the Click To Subscribe and its an interview with the dorky guy we all love – West.

If you have yet to read my interview with L.M Augustine or my review you can find the interview HERE and the review HERE.

Now, have fun getting to know more about West in this interview with him. I love him even more!!!

Synopsis

1,135,789. That’s how many subscribers sixteen-year-old West Ryder has on his web vlog series. But he only has eyes for one of them.

As one of the internet’s most prestigious video bloggers, West talks about high school relationships under the name “Sam Green.” As far as he knows, no one from school, not even his best friend, Cat, has seen his videos. But the highlight of the whole thing is Harper Knight, who comments every day at exactly 2:02 in the afternoon. He doesn’t know anything about her aside from the occasional deep philosophical messaging on why pizza tastes so delicious, but as stupid as it sounds, he might be falling for her. So when they finally agree to meet in real life, West’s hope for romance seems more and more in reach. But that all changes as soon as he arrives at their meeting spot and sees Cat walking toward him, wearing the same “I ❤ Sam Green” T-shirt Harper promised she’d have on.

To his alarm, West realizes he is falling in love with the best friend who has always been a sister to him

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West’s Interview

For someone who likes ice-cream, West is sure as hell late to this meeting. Sitting facing the door, I look around and see mothers and their young children happily munching away on the cold stuff, sprinkles all down their tops and ice cream around their face.

Checking the time on my watch again, West is now 10 minutes late and I really want an ice cream. Debating whether or not to wait, I decide that ice cream is just too tempting and lean down to take my purse out of my bag when the bell on the door rings and in walks West, looking around until he spots me and begins to head over.

Standing up from the chair, I hold my hand out to greet West and give him a smile back.

Hi West, thanks for coming.

Of course! I was promised ice cream.

Okay before we get started, fancy an ice cream?

Yes, yes I do. 🙂 I honestly feel bad for anyone who would turn this down.

With our ice creams in our hands, we take a seat back at the table, and after a lick, I get down to business.

Right, first things first, are you still vlogging? I know you said you were too busy, but I’m sure everyone is missing your videos.

I am, I am. I’m not as into it, though. I have a life now, a real life, and I want to enjoy it as much as possible–if there is one thing I’ve learned from my mom dying, it’s that the happy times are short sometimes–but vlogging means too much to me to totally ignore.

You said you videoed to feel closer to your mother, that you pretended it was her you were speaking to. How much did that help you?

I never got to say goodbye to her. She was always proud of my vlog, of my taking initiative of my life, and it only felt right to tape vlogs to her. I was talking to her, really talking, because that’s the thing about her I miss most: our conversations. This felt like the perfect solution.

No one knew about your hobby, but didn’t you think somewhere along the lines you would be found out?

I worried, of course, but I’m not exactly the most well-known kid in my tiny town, so I knew the chances were minimal.

You and Harper were pretty close, despite only talking over the internet; just what exactly was it about her that you were drawn to?

She just kind of got me. Between her cow riding a bicycle while simultaneously eating pizza avatar and her complete overall dorkiness, I knew we were meant to be with each other.

Cat is your best friend and you two are pretty awesome together. Did you never think of her in a girlfriend sort of way or did it just never cross your mind at all?

I mean, of course I did. I’m not blind. But I always assumed that what Cat and I had was a pure friendship, and even though I knew I connected with her, I was too happy where we were together, as support systems, as best friends, to even consider anything more.

When Harper turns out to be Cat, your reaction is completely understandable, yet didn’t you even draw up a conclusion that Harper acted a bit like Cat?

Maybe I should’ve noticed, but Harper isn’t anyone I ever really questioned. She made me happy, she was the one bright spot in a tough time, and that’s all that mattered to me.

Cat quite literally put her heart on the line when she told you she loved you. Didn’t you ever feel guilty about the way you reacted towards that revelation?

I did. I really did. I was an idiot, but I was just too taken by surprise. I was already pissed at my father that day and desperate because what felt like the one good thing in my life at the time–Harper–turned out to be a fake. I lashed out. I was weak. I didn’t know what to do. I’m just so grateful that Cat believed in me enough to stay friends with me until… we became more.

Cat is such a strong person. I loved how she just never gave up on you and her feelings for you. How did that make you feel? I know you didn’t like that she kept doing little things to try and make you feel something for her, but you had to know that in the end, you would inevitably fall for her?

I didn’t really think I would fall for her, actually. I knew I loved her–in the friend sense–but it took me a while to realize that my self-categorized “friend” love for her was real love all along. I always loved her, it turns out, and I just never realized it. And she showed me that I did. I’m so grateful for that, because I’m happier than ever with her now.

What is it about ice cream that you and Cat are just so obsessed with?

Ha. Haha. HAHAHA.

Taste it. Eat it with vanilla and rainbow sprinkles. You will find the light.

We know the point in which your feelings changed for Cat, but how did you get to that point?

I guess I just found myself looking at her differently after she admitted her feelings to me. I noticed things about her, about her appearance, about her laugh–things I never noticed before. And we already meshed so well, so I couldn’t help but think… that we belong together. Forever.

You and your father didn’t exactly get on after the death of your mother, but we see him change towards the end. How is your relationship with him now?

I like to keep that to myself. We’re working on it; that’s all I feel comfortable saying.

Cat told you that she wanted to spend a week away with a guy she loves at a beach house, and she did exactly that. What did you get up to during that time?

Let’s put it this way: there were numerous times when her lips were covered with ice cream, and whenever her lips are covered with ice cream, I, being the awesome gentleman I am, kiss it off for her.

Also, there was A LOT of strolling around the beaches, sunglasses on, heads bobbing, trying to look as cool as possible. We are badasses, did I mention that?

And how are you and Cat now? How is it having her as your best friend and girlfriend?

It is awesome! I swear she’s the only girlfriend who shares my idea of a date: eating ice cream while simultaneously making fools of ourselves to everyone around us. Multitasking, am I right?

Thanks so much for the interview West. Now before I go, fancy racing to see who can finish another ice cream first? You can buy the next lot when I win!

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About L.M Augustine

Find L.M. on:

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

Email: authoraugustine@gmail.com

Links to buy Click To Subscribe (Which ya’ll should!)

Amazon

Amazon UK

Amazon CA

(And all other Amazon stores)

B&N

Kobo

iBooks
Smashwords

GIVEAWAAAAAAAAAAAY

And now for your chance to win TWO Ecopies of Click To Subscribe. It’s open internationally, so good luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

L.M Augustine, Promotional Events, YA

Click To Subscribe – L.M Augustine (+ GIVEAWAY)

Posted on July 10, 2013July 7, 2013 by Z. Elizabeth

Synopsis

1,135,789. That’s how many subscribers sixteen-year-old West Ryder has on his web vlog series. But he only has eyes for one of them.

To his alarm, West realizes he is falling in love with the best friend who has always been a sister to him.

4/5 stars

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My Review

So it’s L.M Augustine week on The Book Lovers and today is review daaaaaaay!

I had heard of Click To Subscribe through the twitter grapevine and when L.M followed me, I checked out his blog and HELLO CHAPTER ONE. From then on, I was so excited to get this book on my kindle that when it was released and L.M Dm’d me about it, it was an instant download.

I actually read Click a few weeks ago but I have been so rubbish at my reviews that it’s taken me this long to write it, but alas, I write everything down so it’s been easy to type and remember everything that I loved from the book!!

From the synopsis, I knew it would be a great read. I love anything to do with technology in books, so when I saw ‘Vlog’ I knew this was a book that needed to be read by me. Nowadays I hardly read YA, but L.M’s synopsis drew me in and how glad am I that I actually read Click to Subscribe?! It’s such a great read, it’s a refreshing storyline and one that I bloody well-loved reading about.

Best friends to lovers? YES PLEASE!! They are one of my favourite storylines yet there is so much included within the storyline that you wonder if they ever will get together. If they really should be together (they should, I was definitely rooting for them) and if they would eventually get together, and that West would realize they are perfect for each other.

L.M Augustine has included everything in Click. There is hilarious banter between Cat/Harper and West, loveable moments, awkward moments, moments where your heart is aching, where you will cry, where you will laugh and moments where you will be smiling so big that you will feel giddy about what you are reading.

The past 6 months havent been the greatest for West. He’s lost his mother, his father is a douchebag and the only friend he has that he can count on is Cat. He vlogs as a way to feel closer to his mother and one day, someone named Harper comments on his video and from then on they form this close bond.

West is such a freaking great character. He’s witty, can give awesome banter back. He’s adorable and he’s dealing with the pain of losing his mother. He’s also in love with a girl he’s never met. How is that for confusion for him?! He’s hurting, and he;s trying to deal with it the best way he can…by vlogging for his mother. Thinking it’s her he’s speaking to. He would actually be completely lost without Cat, his best friend.

We see bantersaurous-rexing between him and Cat and he and Harper and you will fall in love that extra bit with West because of it. But there will be times when you just want to hit him around the head, especially after Cat declares her feelings. He just stares at her, leaving the atmosphere awkward and in turn, you feel awkward because its such a predicament to be in.

Despite his reservations in wanting to know Cat’s feelings for him, we see him think things through. Although it takes a while, we see him confused and scared and angry and upset that he doesn’t have anyone to talk to about Cats feelings and his feelings that are slowly moving to the surface. You wish you were the one to help him through it all. But he gets there in the end. You see him figure out that he loves Cat and he starts to see her differently. although he’s scared, we know that he and Cat are awesome together and nothing will stop the love they have for one another.

I really, really loved Cat. Seriously. I think it was due to the fact that I saw myself in her. How she plucked up the courage to tell West she was in love with him, to never give up on him no matter how hard it became. This was me a few years ago with my best friend. She was the ultimate bad ass but caring best friend and I LOVED her character. I love the fact that although she was knocked back by West, she never, ever gave up on her feelings for him. I completely admired this about her. Normally YA girls aren’t the strongest (unless I’m reading the wrong books), but Cat blew me away. I wanted to be her friend, tell her to keep expressing her feelings for West because deep down, he had to have feelings for her!!! She acted like Harper and if he loved Harper, then he loved Cat too.

She is a brilliant character and even at 16, she knew exactly what her feelings were, that she wanted to be with West and despite the hurt she was put through, her feelings never wavered and she never gave up proving that she is the right girl for West. I applaud her confidence!

You can see the chemistry between Cat and West. Being best friends since they were younger, you kind of have to have chemistry and as they have grown up, you can see it more clearly. At least i could. Despite the fact they are BBF’s, they really do love one another. They are there for each other, especially Cat during the months after West’s mother had died, which was only a few months back. She supports him, she comforts him and you can really see how much she cares for him. There is no wonder that she is in love with him.

West is just too blind to see what is in front of him and at times to just want to smack him around the head and be like “YOU LOVE HARPER WHO IS CAT SO YOU LOVE CAT!” but i could see why he was reserved about it. It obviously had to take time for him to see Cat as more than a friend. In his own time too. To get his head around the fact that Harper doesn’t exist and it is in fact Cat after all the months.

The scene I loved was the ice cream scene. These two are utterly obsessed with ice cream and just reading their banter and their race to who finishes the ice cream first had me in fits of giggles. I am so going to do this with my friends (They probably wouldn’t be up for it but i;ll force them.) You can see how much fun these two have together and it was refreshing to watch West just have a time out from grieving and be the 16 year old boy that he is.

If you have yet to pick up your copy of Click To Subscribe, please do. You wont be disappointed and for a debut novel, L.M Augustine has written a fantastic book. Like technology in books? Like best friends to lovers? like banter and awkward teenage moments? THEN this is the book for you 😀

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About L.M Augustine

Find L.M. on:

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

Email: authoraugustine@gmail.com

Links to buy Click To Subscribe (Which ya’ll should!)

Amazon

Amazon UK

Amazon CA

(And all other Amazon stores)