Tag Archives: entangled teen

Book Reviews

August 28, 2013 posted by Nichole

Waiting on Wednesday #50

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

For Kellie Brooks, family has always been a tough word to define. Combine her hippie mom and tattooist stepdad, her adopted overachieving sister, her younger half brother, and her tough-love dad, and average Kellie’s the one stuck in the middle, overlooked and impermanent. When Kellie’s sister finally meets her birth mother and her best friend starts hanging with a cooler crowd, the feeling only grows stronger.

But then she reconnects with Oliver, the sweet and sensitive college guy she had a near hookup with last year. Oliver is intense and attractive, and she’s sure he’s totally out of her league. But as she discovers that maybe intensity isn’t always a good thing, it’s yet another relationship she feels is spiraling out of her control.

It’ll take a new role on the school newspaper and a new job at her mom’s tattoo shop for Kellie to realize that defining herself both outside and within her family is what can finally allow her to feel permanent, just like a tattoo.

Ink is Thicker Than Water by Amy Spalding

To be released on December 3rd, 2013

Published by Entangled Teen

Book of the Month

August 10, 2013 posted by Nichole

Hover (The Taking #2) - Melissa West

On Earth, seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander was taught to never peek, but if she hopes to survive life on her new planet, Loge, her eyes must never shut. Because Zeus will do anything to save the Ancients from their dying planet, and he has a plan.

Thousands of humans crossed over to Loge after a poisonous neurotoxin released into Earth’s atmosphere, nearly killing them. They sought refuge in hopes of finding a new life, but what they became were slaves, built to wage war against their home planet. That is, unless Ari and Jackson can stop them. But on Loge, nothing is as it seems…and no one can be trusted.

About a year ago, I read Gravity by Melissa West, and I fell head over heels in love with it. Aliens, Dystopia, and Sexiness all rolled into one book? Yes, please, sign me up! It’s been quite awhile since I’ve read Gravity. I remember that it ended with Ari going to Loge with Jackson and finding out that she was part alien now. I remember thinking then that the second book might run into some problems now that it was totally shifting to the alien’s side. That kind of stuff is a lot tougher to write about. It’s so out of an authors’ comfort zone. They have to write almost 100% of things they don’t know about, and it can be tricky. My fears were right. It didn’t work for me in Hover. I only ended up getting about 70 pages into this book before I had to stop /=

Part of my problem with Hover is that it came practically no background information. Like I said, it had been about a year since I’d read Gravity, and I needed just a little boost of information in Hover to get my brain back on track. There wasn’t very much of that, and it was almost impossible for me to know what was going on. I started to catch up a little, but I had a hard time remembering who anyone was or anything that happened in the first book.

I need to point out to everyone that I had a very choppy ARC of Hover. words were misspelled or over lapped each other. Some words were left out completely. So that might have contributed to the fact that I just could not get into this book. Not only that, though, but I could not find any connection with any character. I remember loving the characters in Gravity, and I tried so hard to connect with them in this book, but I couldn’t do it. I was just not feeling anything for this story.

I’m not going to rate this book, because I don’t think that’s very fair. I didn’t like what I read of it, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a good book. I didn’t even finish it, so how the heck do I know? I do know that Gravity was amazing. And maybe if I had read it right before Hover, it would have made more sense. But I didn’t, and I didn’t much care for it. I hope that everyone researches this book and gives it a fair shot. Who knows…maybe you’ll end up loving it!

Pages: 250

Publication Date: August 13th 2013

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Rating: N/A due to DNF

Goodreads

Book of the Month

July 28, 2013 posted by Nichole

Character Interview with Jennifer L. Armentrout

# 1 New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer L. Armentrout Lives in West Virginia.

All the rumors you heard about her state aren’t true.

Well, mostly. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time, reading, working out, watching zombie movies, and pretending to write.

She is the author of the Covenant Series (Spencer Hill Press), the Lux Series (Entangled Teen), Don’t Look Back (Disney/Hyperion) and a yet untitled novel (Disney/Hyperion), and new YA paranormal series with Harlequin Teen.

Jennifer also writes New Adult and Adult romance under the pen name J. Lynn. The Gamble Brothers Series (Tempting the Best Man/Tempting the Player) and Wait for You. Under her pen name, she is published with Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

What exactly are your feelings for Daemon, Ash?
She shrugs one shoulder. “Of course I care about him, but I don’t have feelings that run deep. I just don’t like him with a human.” She
smiles. “Just being honest.”

You and Daemon were previously in a relationship. What ended that?
“He couldn’t handle me, but he’ll tell you that we didn’t get along. Whatever.”

It must be pretty awful seeing Daemon with Katy. Do you think you could ever grow to like her?
Her eyes roll. “It’s pretty disgusting seeing them together and why would I like her? She’s a problem child.”

I have to say, if some chic dumped food over MY head, that would have been the end of her. Can we expect any retaliation?
“I’ve decided to be the bigger alien and not knock her into outer space.”

I’m really sorry about your brother, Adam. How are you coping?
“I’m dealing,” she said quietly. “As best as I can.”

I’ve noticed that Dee and Andrew are getting closer now. Do you think we might see a romance from them in the future?
Ash laughs. “What? Ew. No.”

And what about you? Is there a romance waiting for you?
“There are several lucky guys waiting for me. Does that count?”

Last question: Regardless of your feelings toward Katy, Daemon obviously loves her. If it came down to it, would you help keep her
safe?
She doesn’t answer immediately. “Depends on my mood, I guess.”

Cover of the Week

May 3, 2013 posted by Nichole

Cover of the Week #117

You should never judge a book by its cover.

Sure…but they never said we couldn’t admire them. Cover of the Week pays homage to the beautiful and eye catching graphics that grace the covers of our young adult titles.

This week’s cover of the week goes to Hover by Melissa West

Release Date: August 6th, 2013

Author Interviews

April 30, 2013 posted by Nichole

Interview with Lisa Burstein

Lisa Burstein is a tea seller by day and a writer by night. She received her MFA in Fiction from the Inland Northwest Center for Writers at Eastern Washington University and is glad to finally have it be worth more than the paper it was printed on. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her very patient husband, a neurotic dog and two cats. Pretty Amy is her first novel. She never went to her senior prom.

Celebrity crush? Ryan Reynolds

Favorite television show? LOST

Can you tell us about your newest book, Dear Cassie?

Dear Cassie is about finding love in the unlikeliest place. Cassie is sent to a wilderness rehab program and forced to journal about her experience. Her “journal” is the book. She is so hurt and angry from a relationship in her past that she can’t open up to anyone, until she meets one of the male campers, Ben. Slowly, over the course of their time at camp, Ben teaches Cassie she can trust and love someone again.

So far, we’ve read about Amy and Cassie. When will we get Lila’s story?

It is definitely in the works. I don’t have a date yet, but as soon as I do I will let people know.

There were some pretty intense topics in both Pretty Amy and Dear Cassie. How difficult was it to write the heartbreaking scenes that occurred in both?

Surprisingly not hard, but I think making them feel real and true is very hard. It takes me a few drafts for what occurs to feel organic and like it’s not just “thrown-in”. Strange that I have to work to make things feel organic to the character and the story, but that’s the truth.

Some could say that Cassie’s story is still unfinished. Do you plan to write more from her POV in the future? And what about Amy?

I am so surprised that people are saying this about Cassie, but they are. I felt like I made it clear at the end of the book what her decision was, but I suppose people want to know if once she made that decision things turned out well for her. I hate to say that I truly don’t know the answer to this question, but that I hope she is happy now. I am not sure if I will write something else from Cassie or Amy’s POV, but I do know they will both be in Lila’s book so readers will see how they are doing.

After Amy, Cassie and Lila’s stories are finished, what do you intend to work on next?

I am actually working on a new adult novel in the interim and I would like to write a new stand-alone YA.

What is the best book you’ve read lately?

Gone Girl

What is currently in your To-Be-Read pile?

Too many books to list, it’s embarrassing :).

Book Reviews

January 17, 2013 posted by Nichole

Onyx - Jennifer L. Armentrout

Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we’re linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there’s this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that’s possible. Against all common sense, I’m falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…

I’m writing this review a couple weeks after I actually finished the book, because I was on vacation in Florida right after I finished it. So this is going to be a bit shorter of a review because my head is lumping all three books together. What I can tell you all, though, is that Onyx was my very favorite book in the series and I gave it a whole 5 stars.

I really enjoyed watching Katy and Daemon’s relationship progress in Onyx. Book 1 was about them meeting and hating eachother, and finally growing to acknowledge a chemistry between them. Book 2 brings in another love interest, confusion between the two, and some definite jealousy. I wish that I would have seen Kate and Daemon get a little closer sooner than they actually did, but there was nothing better than watching Daemon always mess up Blake’s name. It was fun to witness him become jealous and basically throw tantrums because he didn’t know how to speak up about his emotions and feelings. Katy did bug my a little bit, though. It was obvious that Daemon was trying really hard to gain her affections, and she was set on blowing him off and making him feel miserable. Didn’t like that very much.

Blake’s (God, I hope I’m not turning into Daemon and am actually getting his name right) character got on my nerves so much. I couldn’t stand him! It wasn’t just because he was trying to get in the middle of Katy and Daemon, but I found him creepy. I found him to be a rude, inconsiderate jerk in Onyx, and I found him to be even worse in Opal. Daemon should have kicked his ass long before he did. That’s my opinion on Blake [=

There is a lot of cool action and suspense in Onyx. It was a little predictable, but there were some things thrown at me that I didn’t see coming. I can’t stress enough how much I loved this book. I think I spent a good two days on my couch, mouth hanging open, eyes wide as saucers, with the book shoved in my face. I had a massive fan girl moment with this book, and I am now forever a fan of Jennifer L. Armentrout. Everyone needs to read this book!

Pages: 366

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Publication Date: August 14th, 2012

Rating: :

Teaser Quote: “Kitten,” he growled roughly.
I kissed him softly, sliding my hands into his silky locks, letting the pieces slide through my fingers. I tasted in him my own rising desire, my own need and heartache. Thrilling. Frightening. I pulled back.
“Kitten,” he said again, voice strained. “You don’t get to do that and then stop. That’s not how it works.”
I stared at him, my breath stalling in my lungs.
“Not when you’re mine.” Daemon backed us up and slid down the wall, pulling me on his lap so I was straddling him. “And you’re mine.”

Book Reviews

December 31, 2012 posted by Nichole

Gravity (The Taking #1) - Melissa West

In the future, only one rule will matter:

Don’t. Ever. Peek.

Seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander just broke that rule and saw the last person she expected hovering above her bed — arrogant Jackson Locke, the most popular boy in her school. She expects instant execution or some kind of freak alien punishment, but instead, Jackson issues a challenge: help him, or everyone on Earth will die.

Ari knows she should report him, but everything about Jackson makes her question what she’s been taught about his kind. And against her instincts, she’s falling for him. But Ari isn’t just any girl, and Jackson wants more than her attention. She’s a military legacy who’s been trained by her father and exposed to war strategies and societal information no one can know — especially an alien spy, like Jackson. Giving Jackson the information he needs will betray her father and her country, but keeping silent will start a war.

I love dystopia books, and I was not let down with Gravity by Melissa West. The book is about this unique world set several years in the future where aliens and humans sort of co-exist. The aliens are allowed to come to Earth at midnight each night to “take” from each human. The main character, Ari, peeks during her taking one night and realizes that the alien above her is her classmate, and number one competition, Jackson Locke.

As the story progresses, Ari and Jackson begin to work together to create peace for both humans and aliens alike. Unfortunately, things don’t go quite the way they planned and soon Ari learns about some of the horrifying things the humans are doing to the aliens behind closed doors. And to top it all off, Ari is now experiencing new….abilities. By the end of the story both Ari and Jackson have some very tough decisions to make about who they’re aligned with and who they want to be.

Gravity can be summed up into 3 different words and sections; interesting, lacking and amazing. The beginning of the book was very interesting. There was just something really cool about aliens and humans coexisting, and I liked it. I did find the taking process to be a little creepy, but I felt that there needed to be a creep out factor where aliens were concerned.

The middle chunk of the book fell a little flat for me. It started to lose the spark that captured me in the first place. I wouldn’t say that the book got boring or bad, but I did almost put it down. I wanted a lot more, and I was worried that the book was about to tank.

The ending of Gravity was so amazing that I stayed up late into the night sucking down every single word. I don’t know how Melissa West pulled out from that middle funk she created, but she did. The ending was AMAZING! Seriously, I can’t even begin to describe how much I loved the ending of this book.

I also really enjoyed the characters of Gravity, especailly the characters of Ari and Jackson. I really appreciated how West made Ari stick to her original character. That probably makes no sense right now but let me explain. Ari’s father is the current commander, and Ari is already destined to be the future commander. By cooperating with Jackson, Ari had to turn her back on her father and her friends and cooperate with the enemy. Some authors would have made Ari completely okay with that decision, but Melissa West really made it a challenge for Ari. There were times that I was really unsure which direction Ari would take, and I loved not knowing exactly what was going to happen.

Jackson was such a sweetheart! Yes, it was a little creepy that he was an alien, and I didn’t really understand how the aliens could have human bodies, but I loved him! He was strong, hot, and he seriously cared about Ari. He wasn’t over the top mushy gushy and he wasn’ta complete jerk either. I really enjoyed his character!

Now, as much as I enjoyed the ending of this book, I’m a little nervous about the second one. Because of how Gravity left off, the second one will either be really good or really stupid. This really concerns me because of how invested I now am with this series. I’m hoping that the second book will be great. It has such potential and could possibly be a five star book. The book could also tank by incorporating too much alien weirdness. Regardless, I’m going to be checking it out.

Dystopia lovers will really enjoy this book. I would encourage readers to stick through the middle section of the book because the ending is so worth it. Sci-fi fans will also get a kick out of this book since aliens make up a large majority of it! I can’t wait to read more from Melissa West and to hear what you guys think of Gravity! Happy reading!

Pages: 400

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Publication Date: December 18, 2012

Rating: :