Everblue by Brenda Pandos

Everblue (Mer Tales #1) by Brenda Pandos

YA Fantasy

Rating: 5 Stars

Best friends share everything with each other. Or do they? Seventeen-year-old Ashlyn Frances Lanski is tired of her boring, single life. Spending time with her best friend Tatiana, dreaming about kissing Tatiana's twin brother Fin, and swimming competitively are her only sanctuary. The girls plan to leave their drab lakeside town far behind for college. But when Tatchi fails to return home after a family emergency, and no one knows where the family has gone, Ash chooses to do something drastic to find them.

Ashlyn is about to discover what she'd thought to be true her whole life, wasn't, and the truth, too fantastical to imagine. Secrets lurk beneath the deep blue waters of Lake Tahoe, secrets that will change Ashlyn's life forever.

My Thoughts: Yay for mermaids! I guess it’s more like merpeople in this case. I love fantasy novels but it’s more of werewolves and vampires so it’s nice to have that change. It was refreshing. I am a twin myself and I believe that they portrayed twins very well. The storyline between Ashlyn and Fin is pretty amazing. Even though they are just teenager they have to make a choice that could change Fin’s life forever and he doesn’t have a long time to choose which. The characters were well developed, that was part of the reason I fell in love with it! I can admit that for this novel it was the cover that grabbed my attention and it didn’t not disappoint me like a few have in the past.

            Overall, this is a fantastic read and I recommend it everyone! I cannot wait to read the next one.

Cover: 5/5

Writing: 4/5

Characters: 4/5

Overall Score:

Golden Blood by Melissa Pearl

Golden Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy #1) by Melissa Pearl

YA Science Fiction

Rating: 3 Stars

Gemma Hart never knows when her father is going to whisk her back in time. Her toes start tingling and she has a few minutes to find a secret haven where she can disintegrate and appear in another time and place. While “across the line,” her training and skills are put to the test as she completes a mission that will change history for the lucky few her father has selected.

Gemma's parents are adamant that secrecy is paramount to her family’s safety. If people knew what they were capable of, they could be "used and abused", as her mother always says. Afraid she might accidentally utter the truth and break the ancient oath of her people, Gemma spends her school days as a loner. Only one thing can throw her sheltered life askew... Harrison Granger.

Harrison never expected to talk to the strange Hart girl, but after a brief encounter he can't stop thinking about her. He begins a campaign to chisel away her icy veneer and is met with unexpected consequences. As he slowly wins this girl over, he enters a surreal world that has him fighting to keep his newfound love and his life.

My Thoughts: This is a very interesting story. I got it for free so I thought I would check it out. I didn’t really regret it but I also didn’t particularly like the entire book. The plot is awesome though. It’s a different way to travel in time and it is very intriguing. The only problem is it wasn’t developed enough in my opinion. The character seemed a bit bland and the main character, Gemma was not relatable. She was odd and good main character but there were times she seemed very boring. The relationship between her and Harrison seemed a bit strange to. It was as if their relationship grew over night. He was definitely not developed enough either.

            Overall, I love the idea and the plot but the writing was not that great. I gave it a four because there were certain parts that fit and worked out. It’s more reflective in the character section. I am tempted to read the next one but I have no idea on when I would.

Cover: 3/5

Writing: 4/5

Characters: 3/5

Overall Score:

Prince of Wolves by Quinn Loftis

Prince of Wolves (The Grey Wolves #1) by Quinn Loftis

YA Paranormal/Fantasy

Rating: 4 Stars

Jacque Pierce was just an ordinary 17-year-old girl getting ready to start her senior year in high school in Coldspring, Texas. When a mysterious foreign exchange student from Romania moves in across the street, Jacque and her two best friends, Sally and Jen, don't realize the last two weeks of their summer are going to get a lot more interesting.

From the moment Jacque sets eyes on Fane she feels an instant connection, a pull like a moth to a flame. Little does she know that the flame she is drawn to is actually a Canis lupis, werewolf, and she just happens to be his mate; the other half of his soul.

The problem is Fane is not the only wolf in Coldspring, Texas.

Just as Fane and Jacque are getting to know each other, another wolf steps out to try and claim Jacque as his mate. Fane will now have to fight for the right to complete the mating bond, something that is his right by birth but is being denied him by a crazed Alpha. Will the love Fane has for Jacque be enough to give him the strength to defeat his enemy, will Jacque accept that she is Fane's mate and complete the bond between them?

My Thoughts: The reason I love reading different stories about werewolves and vampires is because I love reading how each author changes the game. This particular story was very interesting. Fane moves into town and finds Jacque, his soul mate and they plan to live happily after. They connect on a different level and it’s an amazing love. Then another wolf claims that she was his soul mate and things start falling apart. It’s a great concept and I love how much backstory went into making this novel.

            Overall, I really love how this story goes. There are some very interesting parts and there are some parts that seem to drag the story down a bit. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Cover: 5/5

Writing: 4/5

Characters: 4/5

Overall Score:

Twisted by Holly Hook

Twisted (Deathwind Trilogy Book #1) by Holly Hook

YA Paranormal/Fantasy

Rating: 5 Stars

Sixteen-year-old Allie isn’t like other girls. Instead of spending her summer break sitting around on the beach, she takes the epic vacation of a lifetime.

Tornado chasing.

And she’s not disappointed. Just a few miles from the town of Evansburg, Nebraska, Allie meets her dream of seeing a tornado. In person. She can’t wait to tell her friends back home. Never mind that her parents are going to kill her.

But her dream soon turns into a nightmare, and a strange event leaves her shocked. Confused. When she returns home to Wisconsin, something’s…different. Allie now bears a curse so awful, it could destroy everyone and everything she’s ever known.

With her best friend, Tommy, Allie must return to the plains to find a way to reverse it. She enters a world that she had never imagined, where she becomes a pawn in a fight to save the people of Evansburg from her fate…or to destroy them

My Thoughts: This is a whole new concept. The fact that people are the cause of natural disasters is such a fantastic idea. Why didn’t anyone think of this sooner? This isn’t the first of Holly Hook’s books that I have read, I also read Tempest and I had the same reaction (review for that one coming soon). Anyway, back to the book. I am a Wisconsinite. I love that the main character is from Wisconsin, there needs to be more of that. I have always had a fascination with tornadoes so it was easy for me to connect with the character although I don’t think I have the guts to go tornado chasing. We have enough tornado warnings here that scare the crap out of me I can’t imagine going after them.

            What kind of story would it be without the best friend who helps you when you need it the most? Tommy is a great character and the backbone for Allie. She has been through so much and Tommy is the reminder of her old life and who she is, just what she needs when she feels more unlike herself than ever. Of course his feelings for her is a bit predictable.

            Her connection with Dorian is very intriguing and I love it. There is something definitely there and it gives us the love triangle. Sort of. They don’t actually say anything about it but I have a feeling its going to grow it something good.

            Overall, I really like this series and I can’t wait to continue it!

Cover: 4/5

Writing: 5/5

Characters: 5/5

Overall Score: