Review: Unchained by J. Lynn

Title: Unchained
Author: J. Lynn (a.k.a. Jennifer Armentrout) 
Genre: Adult, Supernatural, Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy
Number of Pages: 400
Publisher: Entangled: Edge
Published: September 17, 2013

Summary: 

Between the pissed off creatures that want demon-hunter Lily Marks dead and the fallen angel who just...wants her, Lily is about ready to trade in forever for a comfy job in a cubicle farm.

The fact that she and Julian are civil to one another is enough to have her thrown out of the Sanctuary, but she can't shake her not-so-angelic stalker or how he brings her dangerously close to ecstasy.

Her forbidden relationship with Julian provides the perfect fuel for suspicion when a traitor is discovered to be working within the Sanctuary. Lily quickly finds herself hunted by well, everyone.

Her only hope is to discover the real traitor before she loses everything--and she'll need Julian's help. That is, if Julian is really there to help her...and not destroy her.

Yeah, being a Nephilim isn't everything it's cracked up to be.

~~~~~

When I bought this book I thought it was YA. When I heard it wasn't I just shrugged and figured I read it anyway, because I have to admit. I love Jennifer's writing.  So, yes I am briefly reviewing an adult book. 

I liked the characters for the most part. Lily was brave and stubborn, things I liked in a heroine and Julian is just yummy. The book starts out with them already knowing each other, were he provokes her and claimed she is turned on by him. Now I don't know about you, but if a guy said that to me I would be running for the hills.

Micheal doesn't know he is a Nephilim so when Lily knocks him out (after he tried to shoot her of course) she knows she is in some deep trouble. Not only does she save him, she has to train him as well. Only problem is Lily has the patience of an ant and wants to stab him in the eye with a spork. 

Down to the interesting bits now. I was expecting sex, it is in the romance genere, an adult book. But I didn't think there would be a lot. Or graphic (That is my opinion. Remember I am only 16. In my defense I bought it thinking it was a YA book) It is graphic and paints the picture in your mind.

All in all the story was interesting and I liked it. Like I said, I'm briefly reviewing this because we are a YA book blog. 

Rating: ★★★

Review: Shadowlands (Shadowlands, #1) by Kate Brian

Title: Shadowlands (Book #1 in the Shadowlands Series)
Author: Kate Brian
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 stars)
Hardcover, 336 pages
Published January 2013 

Summary: Rory Miller had one chance to fight back and she took it. Rory survived and the serial killer who attacked her escaped. Now that the infamous Steven Nell is on the loose, Rory must enter the witness protection program. Entering the program alongside her, is her father and sister Darcy. The trio starts a new life and a new beginning leaving their friends and family behind without a goodbye. Starting over in a new town with only each other is unimaginable for Rory and Darcy. They were inseparable as children but now they can barely stand each other. As the sisters settle in to Juniper Landing, a picturesque vacation island, it seems like their new home may be just the fresh start they need. They fall in with a group of beautiful, carefree teens and spend their days surfing, partying on the beach, and hiking into endless sunsets. Just as they’re starting to feel safe again, one of their new friends goes missing. Is it a coincidence? Or is the nightmare beginning all over again?

Okay, let's have a moment of honesty for a second: I picked up this book at my library because some jerk had taken out Insurgent and still had it even though it was four weeks overdue. I was pretty upset about that (because yes, as a book geek, we are entitled to get upset about stuff like that), so I was scouring the shelves and came across Shadowlands. It seemed pretty interesting, so I gave it a shot--but my point is, I went into this book having no idea how I was going to feel about it, and now...WOW. Completely stunned me. FIVE STARS ALL THE WAY, which is pretty big because I don't give a book five stars easily. May I just say, Kate Brian's Shadowlands EARNED those five stars.

So as the summary explains, this book is about Rory, a teenage girl who was nearly killed by a serial killer--who was her math teacher. The whole serial-killer aspect alone scared the daylights out of me--every night before I went to sleep and stopped reading, I was afraid to shut off my lamp and would flinch at every bump and creak that I heard all night. Brian legitimately created fear and stuck it in my mind, and like I've said a million times before, books very rarely cause me to express physical emotions. (Except TFiOS. TFiOS is the exception to every situation.)

So anyway, Rory and her family gets moved to Juniper Landing, a quaint little vacation island where they can take a load off and at least enjoy their time in the Witness Protection Program. The only thing out of this entire book that I wasn't so keen on was the fact that it took awhile for the action to start once they got to their new location. For anyone who was read the book, it starts off pretty action-packed and rattles you a little bit (or in my case, rattles you quite a bit), but once they get to Juniper Landing, things go kind of slow for awhile. I felt like it dragged on for far too long before stuff got interesting. (Oh, and a quick side question for anyone who read the book: What's the deal with Aaron? Did he have ANY purpose throughout the whole plot? Just a thought...and I'm well aware that this is a series and I don't know what happens after the first book yet, but these are my thoughts on the first book. 

Once stuff got interesting, however...it got very interesting. Interesting indeed.

The paragraphs below CONTAINS SPOILERS. SKIP AND DO NOT READ anything written in PURPLE if you don't want the story spoiled for you.   

So if you're reading this paragraph, it means that you know there will be a few spoilers, so I won't even try holding back with what I'm about to say--THAT ENDING, MAN. I'm not going to tell you the ending, of course, because you shouldn't be reading this paragraph and spoiling it for yourself if you haven't read the book yet, and if you HAVE read the book already, you'll know what I'm talking about. 

So, this ending happened SO fast, and it just left me with so many questions. What was that sharp pain that Rory felt right before Nell tried to kill her? What exactly happened to him that made him drop her? Why did Tristan tell Rory to let go, and then all of a sudden she was okay? What did Krista do with Nell? How the heck did he manage to evade authority for ten years but got taken down by a group of teenagers? And lastly, EVERYONE IS WHAT? DEAD? SERIOUSLY? How did they all die? Not even Tristan and the rest of his group--how did Darcy and their dad die, how did Rory die, and if they're dead, where is their dead mother? What happened to that kid with the dreads, and also Olive? WHY WON'T ANYONE ELABORATE ANYTHING?! (Some of these questions may have answers I just didn't catch. Just venting right now, that's all!) As soon as I read Tristan's last words, I closed the book, looked up, and just blinked.

When I finished that book, I didn't do anything else but blink for a few minutes. There was nothing to say, because I was absolutely stunned and left with a thousand questions that I hope get answered in the second book, because if they don't, I don't know if I'll be able to handle the suspense. (Yeah, Brian definitely gets props for that ending--left me amazed and shocked and curious!

All in all, Shadowlands was a suspenseful and surprisingly pleasing and gripping book that I recommend to any YA reader out there looking for a new trilogy to latch onto and fall in love (mad, complicated, terrifying love) with.

So, that's all I have to say about that today. Check back soon for more reviews, events, and more! Also, BookCon is this Saturday (eeek!!) and we'll be attending! So be on the lookout for all fun stuff regarding that (and possibly some future giveaways with some swag we get *wink wink*), all coming soon!

Waiting On Wednesday: Stone Cold Touch (The Dark Elements #2)

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

~~~~~

Title: Stone Cold Touch (The Dark Elements #2)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Genre: Fantasy, Supernatural, Romance
Number of Pages: 304
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: October 28, 2014


Summary: 

Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.

But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…

~~~~~

My mind won't even work right now. I keep thinking "I need Roth. I need Roth. Why isn't Roth real?"  White Hot Kiss left me wanting so much more that is hurts, I don't know how Jennifer Armentrout does it. Her books always make me feel like this. 

Showcase Sunday (#2)

Showcase Sunday is a weekly event held by Books, Biscuits, and Tea were bloggers can show off their haul from the week. Whether you borrowed books from your local library or they were gifted to you. Here is my haul for my second week!

***All four books were obtained via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

The Revealed by Jessica Hickam is an ARC. The review could be found here!
Blur by Steven James is an ARC.

     
This Saturday is BookCon! Keep a look out for our next Showcase Sunday to check out our hauls! 

What are you currently reading?

Discussion: #WeNeedDiverseBooks

If you have any sort of social media account, specifically a Twitter, Tumblr, or Instagram, you may have noticed a popular hashtag going around lately--#WeNeedDiverseBooks. You may have read through a few Tweets to see what it's all about, maybe skim an article or two that pops up on your timeline, or maybe you just continued on with your day without stopping to think. I, however, think it's important to stop and think. Especially about a topic like this. What exactly, though, is this?

Where did this start?
The #WeNeedDiverseBooks social media uproar started when BookCon (which is this Saturday, May 31st) announced the lineup of children's authors (such as James Patterson, Jeff Kinney, and Rick Riordan) that would be attending. It just so happened that all of those authors are white. (We are not saying in any way, shape, or form that BookCon has any racial prejudice--just making that clear.) This little fact was an eye-opener to the community, and it was a shock well needed--our children's literature lacks the important diversity that it needs.

What happened after?
The response to this realization was absolutely overwhelming. It started with just a few authors and publishers venting through social media about how "we needed diverse books" regarding the announcement and just children's literature in general. Shortly after, the hashtag #WeNeedDiverseBooks began, and authors, readers and ordinary people alike started Tweeting like crazy. Here are just a few of them:

"#WeNeedDiverseBooks because we live in a colorful planet." -Stacey Lee

"#WeNeedDiverseBooks because this generation of "minority" kids will grow up to be the majority. Duh." -Lisa Yee

"#WeNeedDiverseBooks because my half-Japanese kids would love to have some role models they can relate to." -Ben L. J. Brooks

"#WeNeedDiverseBooks because books should make readers feel less alone in this world, not more alone in it." -Courtney Summers

"“#WeNeedDiverseBooks because fiction reflects the world, and thankfully, wonderfully!--the world is not monochromatic or uniform.” -Jodi Picoult

What are my views on this?
I agree with this campaign wholeheartedly. When I think about this debate, the first thing that pops into my mind is how everyone was so shocked when surprised when The Princess and the Frog was released and Disney had created the first black princess. The situation isn't exactly the same, but pretty close--Disney was choosing to accept equality and diversity, and man, did people talk about it.

So is #WeNeedDiverseBooks more or less the same? Absolutely. Authors can write whatever they feel they want to--as a writer, you're given that creative freedom--but they need to keep in mind that the world isn't black and white, short and tall, old and new. Our planet is not just this thing and that thing. Our planet is this thing and that thing and that thing over there and that thing in the corner and that thing way over that way and that thing right here. Diversity is slowly trickling into all sorts of cracks and spreading in all sorts of places--so why not this?

"The whole idea of [the] #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign is about the need for people to get involved. We need every single person who cares to do something and let their voice join with ours because their one voice might be the one that makes the difference." -Ellen Oh (www.bookriot.com)

Long story short, I feel that diversity in literature for not only younger children, but also young adults and late teens, needs to not be "enforced," because this isn't a law. It isn't a rule. However, authors should express unique ideas and push boundaries if they see fit--there are no "rules" for how characters should look and behave and act. We need to embrace diversity in reading, because writers and readers are gifted with the ability to open their mind to endless possibilities--why not make diversity in books one of them?

If you're interested in reading more about #WeNeedDiverseBooks, follow their Twitter by clicking here, attend their panel at BookCon (10:00am at the Javits Center in NYC), or read up on the campaign by checking out some of the articles below:

• BookCon Controversy Begets Diversity Social Media Campaign
• Talking With the Voices of #WeNeedDiverseBooks
• We Need Diverse Books--Here's How You Can Help!
• Diversity in Kids' Books Campaign Goes Viral After BookCon Uproar
• #WeNeedDiverseBooks Goes Viral

Review: Poor Little Dead Girls by Lizzie Friend

Title: Poor Little Dead Girls
Author: Lizzie Friend
Rating: ★★★ (3/5 stars)
Hardcover, 285 pages
Published November 2013

Summary: Perfect people aren't just born. They're made. The first time she is blindfolded and kidnapped, star-athlete and posh boarding school newbie Sadie is terrified. She wakes up in a dark room surrounded by hushed whispers, hooded strangers, and a mysterious voice whispering not-so-sweet nothings in her ear. But once the robes come off, she realizes it’s just an elaborate prank designed to induct her into the group that’s been pulling the strings at Keating Hall for generations. The circle has it all--incredible connections; fabulous parties; and, of course, an in with the brother society’s gorgeous pledges. The instant popularity is enough to make Sadie forget about the unexplained marks on her body, the creepy ceremonial rituals, and the incident that befell one of her teammates the year before. So the next time Sadie is kidnapped, she isn’t scared, but she should be. The worst of Keating Hall is yet to come.

When I picked this book up from my local library, I'll admit right now that the title caught my attention. Yes, I know, I've committed one of the infamous Horribly Horrible Acts of Crime That You Could Commit As a Reader--picking up a book solely because the cover looks interesting. But I mean hey, can you even really blame me? This is Friend's first novel, so I didn't have any other works to base it by. The title itself--Poor Little Dead Girls--just gave me chills. Being a big fan of Pretty Little Liars (yes, the books, not the show, because BOOKS ARE MORE IMPORTANT!), this kind of stuff interests me. And maybe also because my dad is a detective. Either or.

Anyway, back to the review. What I loved about this book was how the story wasn't completely seen before. Yeah, there are tons of books out there that deal with sketchy stuff going on at boarding schools. For some reason, this story just seemed different for me. And way more interesting. In the story, Sadie is a not-so-rich girl attending a preppy boarding school where their transportation service isn't buses--it's limos. That's just a quick glance into how posh and elite this school is. Of course, as most elite schools, Keating Hall has a secret society--The Order of Optimates, also known as the Sullas. These "Sullas" tell Sadie that their ultimate goal is to make the world a better place--mainly through charity and their connections that are pretty high-up in the food chain. (When I say "high up," I mean seriously high up...the entire group of high school kids managed to get into a Presidential Ball at the White House, for crying out loud.) 

The secret society thing was definitely intriguing and held my attention once I got into it. As for the plot itself, in the beginning it felt like the generic boarding school mystery plot, but once you get deep into the story and the drama begins to unravel (drama which I will kindly not spoil for you unless you want me to), you totally get hooked.

The next paragraph contains spoilers, so if you don't want to know what happens, skip the starred paragraph below!

***One of my favorite parts of the story (okay, maybe not favorite because I'll sound really creepy, but definitely the most intriguing) was when Sadie and Jessica discovered that the Sullas had been storing Sadie's eggs (as well as some others from other women) to possibly scientifically create "perfect, genetically-sound" children to help carry on the Sulla cause. *Shudders* Eeeesh. Creeeeeeepy. And the fact that members of this society are told who they have to marry and have offspring with is just plain wrong and it honestly shocked me. Members of the Sulla society are allowed to pick who they basically want to "mate" and marry and spend the rest of their lives with, but that significant other not only needs to be another Sulla member, but also has to have their DNA reviewed to make sure that strong offspring could be produced. As sickening and scary as it sounds, something like that ("approved" marriages and producing offspring in test tubes without parental consent) are both things that really happen. Not on a scale like this, of course (or at least I certainly hope not), but it does happen. It was a pretty eye-opening revelation for me. ***

There were only two issues I had with this book that kept me from bumping my review up to four stars (because technically, this review deserves three and a half instead of three because I more than liked it, but I less than really liked it...#confliction).

The first thing that turned me off a little was a paragraph on page 59 (spoiler free, so don't you worry), and I placed it below:

"She sat down on her bed and cracked open her laptop to check her e-mail. She had one new message, but she didn't recognize the sender. It was from an anonymous Keating address, just a jumble of letters and numbers, and the subject line was a single word: Fate. Even stranger was the cryptic message inside.

We are all at the mercy of fate.
Soon you will know yours.
-Z"

Alright, let's take a moment..."just a jumble of letters and numbers"...do I even have to say it? That paragraph was so just like Pretty Little Liars, fit to a tee. Word for word, almost. And I'm a huge fan of the PLL series, which means I would obviously geek out and catch that right away. I can honestly admit that I cringed when I read that section. I mean, seriously? Even signing it with a single letter, which was coincidentally the complete opposite of the letter A, which Sara Shepard uses. (Spoiler alert: We never find out who "Z" is.)

Aside from that, I felt like the ending of the story did give a proper closure, which I was impressed with because my biggest issue with mystery novels is when the author doesn't tell us what happens to anybody afterwards. The ending, in my opinion, just felt a little rushed. It took all of 2-3 chapters (or at least it felt like 2-3 chapters) to have the suspense, the climax, the falling action, and the resolution. I had to reread that section a couple of times just because I was sit there blinking, completely confused as to how everything happened so darn fast.

All in all, Pretty Little Dead Girls was a gripping, suspenseful novel that kept me on the edge of my seat and my eyes glued to the pages because I always wanted to know what was going to happen next. I think Lizzie Friend did a great job with her first novel, and I'm looking forward to any more that will be published soon!

So that's all I have to say about that today, but don't forget to keep in touch and follow our Twitter for more reviews, giveaways, and extra-special coverage of BookCon 2014! (Which is this Saturday--yikes! So close! ...I should probably get packing...)

Discussion: eReaders Vs. Books

I own over 70 books, 150 ebooks, and burrow a countless amount from the local library. I find now though that a good majority of people own an eReader and prefer that over an actual physical copy of a book. I will admit it is easy and portable. So what do I prefer? I like and dislike both. 

eReader: (Kindle Fire HD) 

What I like:

• They are extremely portable. I slip it into my school bag in the morning and I am off!
• I don't have to worry about bending the pages. Believe it or not it is my biggest pet peeve with books. Especially bent covers. 
• I can read in the dark! I share a room with my sister, who hates when I keep the light on into the later hours of the night to read. This keeps up both happy and not at each others throats 
• Free or discounted books! Amazon has free books, as well as discounted books. That means more for your money! 
• I can lay down and read in awkward positions! 

What I dislike:

• Having to charge it! You don't have to do that with books! 
• It is fragile. I am constantly worried of breaking it. I dropped it in my drive way the other day. (I will shamelessly admit I tripped over my own feet....again) 
• It dies unexpectedly. Long car trips? Ughh! It ends up dying and leaves me bored out of my mind.
• Glares. At the beach or in class light reflects off the screen making it hard to focus on the actually words. 

Books:

What I like:

• The smell. Call it weird but I find it relaxing. Especially after a long stressful day? Perfect. 
• Sometimes they have different colored font! (Ex. Legend by Marie Lu) 
• Hard covers have the book jacket that comes off! 
• Physically collection to show off. 
• I can read it on long car rides and not worry about the battery life! 
• Doesn't need to be charged! 

What I dislike:

• Paper cuts! I done it tons of times! 
• Pages bend or covers rip ... or you can rip a page out (I did that to a library book and accident once.)
• You can't read in the dark! There for me and my sister fight and makes me shut the light off. 
• Can't lay down and read in certain positions. 
• Font can sometimes be too small

Both have the plus and minuses. Somethings will beat the others. Sometimes my mood ends up effecting what I want to read on as well. It will sadden me the day all books are only available on eReaders. My book collection is something I take much pride in! 

What do you prefer? 

ARC Review: The Revealed by Jessica Hickam

Title: The Revealed
Author: Jessica Hickam
Genre: Sceince Fiction, Dystopia, Fantasy, Romance
Number of Pages: 314
Publisher: SparkPress
Release Date: June 17, 2014
Received From: Netgalley and SparkPress 
Summary:

Lily Atwood lives in what used to be called Washington, D.C. Her father is one of the most powerful men in the world, having been a vital part of rebuilding and reuniting humanity after the war that killed over five billion people. Now he’s running to be one of its leaders.

But in the rediscovered peace on Earth, a new enemy has risen. They call themselves the Revealed – a powerful underground organization that has been kidnapping 18 year olds across the globe without reservation. No one knows why they are kidnapping these teens, but it’s clear something is different about these people. They can set fires with a snap of their fingers and create a wind strong enough to barrel over a tree with a flick of their wrist. No one has been able to stop them, and they have targeted Lily as their next victim.

But Lily has waited too long to break free from her father’s shadow to let some rebel organization just ruin everything. Not without a fight.

~~~~~

I don't have one negative thing to say about The Revealed. It captured my attention from the first word. There was and equal amount of everything I enjoy in a book. Romance, action, and adventure. With several "What the....!?" moments. 

Here is the book in my own words: 

Since Lily's eighteenth birthday she had been stuck in her home. In a world were eighteen year olds are kidnapped by a terrorist group called The Revealed, she's vulnerable. Especially because she is the daughter of one of the most powerful men in the world. 

All Lily wants is her freedom back. To be able to go out and be a teenager. But instead she is locked in her house until her nineteenth birthday. To make matters worse she is receiving threatening letters from The Revealed. Turning to her parents and best friend Rory for help she soon discovers that that the most unlikely person will become her biggest ally. 

Kai, the nineteen year old son of her father's rival in the presidential campaign is back, on leave from the military were he still has to serve for another year. But never in a million years did Lily expect she would fall head over heels for the boy he disliked her in high school. But now things are different. 

Not everyone is who they say to be in the book. With betrayal and loss Lily must look inside her self for what she wants the most. 

My thoughts feelings and everything in between: 

Politics aren't my thing, I don't understand them and probably never will. Though this book had part to do with the political campaign of her father Jessica Hickam made is interesting. The book had a realistic feel to it, maybe not The Revealed's power but the future of America part. 

I really liked the characters. At first I wasn't a fan of Lily. I thought she was a bit ungrateful what she has. Pretty quickly though she proved her self and fell in love with her as the main character. I just wished she touched back more on her and Kai's childhood together.

Kai, well at first, I didn't like him. He was sketchy and seemed to be trouble. But he is another one who grew on me. He seemed to genuinely care about Lily. Even betraying his own father to help her. 

I am very picky with the endings of book. It is just how I am. I always want a happy ending and that doesn't always happen. This ending is the first one in a long time that I was actually content with. Do I want more? Yes, and I happy to know that there will be another book in the series. (That makes me very very happy because I need more Kai and Lily).


Jessica Hickam created a realistic world about betrayal and loss and one girl's challenge of finding her place in this world. Be on the look out on June 17th to get your copy of The Revealed!

Rating: ★★★★

*I received an ARC ebook copy of The Revealed via Netgalley and SparkPress in return for an honest review*

Waiting On Wednesday: Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead

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

~~~~~

Title: Silver Shadows (Bloodlines #5)

Author: Richelle Mead

Genre: Supernatural, Magic, Fantasy

Publisher: Razorbill

Release Date: July 29th, 2014

Summary: 

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

In The Fiery Heart, Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists.

Now in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other. But first, they have to survive. 

For Sydney, trapped and surrounded by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity and the memories of those she loves. Meanwhile, Adrian clings to hope in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle proves daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him. . . .

Their worst fears now a chilling reality, Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour in this heart-pounding fifth installment.

~~~~~

A little over two months until I can have this. Ugh. The ending of The Fiery Heart did everything but kill me. I think getting stabbed in the eye with a fork would have hurt a lot less. With so many unanswered questions and I broken heart I am hoping Richelle isn't going to shatter me to pieces with her stories once again. 

Here are a few quotes I found on Goodreads: 

“What is it with you and girls, Adrian, dear? Why do they either mean nothing to you or everything? It's always an extreme.""Because I don't do things in halves, mom. Especially when it comes to love.” 

~ ~ ~ 

“Out of old habit, I put my hand on my collarbone, touching a cross that was no longer there. Don't let them change me, I prayed silently.Let me keep my mind. Let me endure whatever there is to come.” 

~ ~ ~

“I took a deep breath and said: “I fell in love with a vampire.”
And like that, I was blinded by light.” 

Review: The Taking by Kimberly Derting

Title: The Taking             
Author: Kimberly Derting
Genre: Science Fiction, Paranormal, Aliens
Year Published: 2014
Number of Pages: 368
Publisher: HarperTeen

Summary: 

A flash of white light . . . and then . . . nothing. 

When sixteen-year-old Kyra Agnew wakes up behind a Dumpster at the Gas ’n’ Sip, she has no memory of how she got there. With a terrible headache and a major case of déjà vu, she heads home only to discover that five years have passed . . . yet she hasn’t aged a day. 

Everything else about Kyra’s old life is different. Her parents are divorced, her boyfriend, Austin, is in college and dating her best friend, and her dad has changed from an uptight neat-freak to a drunken conspiracy theorist who blames her five-year disappearance on little green men. 

Confused and lost, Kyra isn’t sure how to move forward unless she uncovers the truth. With Austin gone, she turns to Tyler, Austin’s annoying kid brother, who is now seventeen and who she has a sudden undeniable attraction to. As Tyler and Kyra retrace her steps from the fateful night of her disappearance, they discover strange phenomena that no one can explain, and they begin to wonder if Kyra’s father is not as crazy as he seems. There are others like her who have been taken . . . and returned. Kyra races to find an explanation and reclaim the life she once had, but what if the life she wants back is not her own?

~~~~~

I loved Kimberly Derting's The Body Finder series. So when I saw that she wrote another novel I was really excited. I was even more excited when my library finally had it. 

I really did enjoy The Taking. It was about a young girl accepting her faith, and trying to make her life normal after being "returned" from being abducted five years earlier. There were many things how ever I did not liked and made this harder for me to get into the book. 

First, Kyra awakens behind a dumpster 5 years after she is abducted, still in the same clothing (Softball uniform, with her hair entwined with ribbons) and looks exactly the same. Like she hasn't aged in five years. The only person who mentions this is Tyler. I don't know about you but if someone I cared about returned after being abducted for the amount of time and still looked like they did when they were abducted I would be quote curious. 

Second, Kyra was 16 when she disappeared, which was five years ago. So now she would be around 21. 

"This was Tyler Wahl. Tyler, who looked far too much like his older brother—my seventeen-year-old boyfriend—in looks, in stature...and, most of all, in age.
Tyler, who, the last time I’d seen him just the day before, had been only twelve years old."

Five years and a day to be correct. Whether she looks 16 or not she is still technically 21 years old. I found it kind of weird. 

Third, The Taking takes play over eight days. eight days. Saying "I love you" after only eight days doesn't sit right with me. On day two when Kyra started saying how she got butterflies looking at Tyler and how he made her smile I knew what was coming. I just expected it to be a lot slower. Especially she still had to deal with Austin. 

Fourth, Kyra didn't make a big attempt to hear Cat or Austin out. She kept saying how they are so important to her but she wouldn't communicate with them. She avoids Cat's phone calls, when she comes to see her Kyra runs inside. I was expecting Cat to be in more of the book were she was really only in five pages. Austin was in like three. 

Enough with what I didn't like. There was a lot I did like about this book. The idea especially. Alien's seem so cliche and overdone so I wasn't expecting much from this. The last thing I expected was fire flies. 

I grew up with these little bugs living in my backyard. I have caught jars and jars full of them. But aliens? I really liked that idea. Though I was a bit confused. Were the fireflies aliens? Or like transporters? Lets just say I will never look at the little suckers the same again. (Though I am now really itchy after reading a certain part in the book. That would be my worst nightmare. No matter how harmless they are.) 

Though I was unhappy with how fast Tyler and Kyra's romance progressed I did enjoy it, I always enjoy romance. It was cute and simple, not much of a science behind it. Never mind the fact it is her ex-boyfriend's kid brother. How crazy is that? Like the ultimate F you. 

Kimberly knows how to leave us all hanging. That ending? Oh my. My heart is pounding. I need to know what happens. Like now. 

All in all I did enjoy The Taking very much and I am eager for the second book in the trilogy to come out. (So far no release date) 

Rating: ★★★ (3 1/2 Stars)