Review: Twisted Games by Sarah J. Pepper (ARC review)

Title: Twisted Games (Book #1 in The Fate Trilogy)

Author: Sarah J. Pepper

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, God, Goddess

Page Count: 369

Publisher: Neximus Publishing

Summary-

For years, deities searched for the Fate Sisters, but they weren't alone in the pursuit. Their biggest rivals, the Hunters, sought the sisters as well. It was a sick, demented race of who could find them first… and then kill them. Gwyneth trusted no one, not even her beloved, Jace. For if he knew what she had planned, he’d be her greatest enemy.

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Twisted Games takes off several months after the first book end. Gwyneth can see, well she sees deities in full vibrant color, hunters in pastels  and mortals in black and white, but she can see. Her and Jace are now in a relationship. 

The main objection in this book is for the deities to find the two other Fate sisters. If they do, I am not going to spoil that. But believe me the book has a strong beginning, middle and end. 

"What was on the note Levi gave you?"
"Ask him," I said.
"I did!" Jace yelled "He wasn't particularly forthcoming"
"Maybe you just didn't ask him nicely."
"What! Was! On! That! Note!"

Jace. I love him but he has a bit of an anger disorder. Especially when it involves being in Gwyneth's life.  He wants to control her and of course be part of her life but can't. Gwyenth begins to suffer from the Craves. Were a human becomes addicted to the effect a diety has on them. And when the diety isn't around the human can't function. Gwenyth in her past life taught Jace about free will, thus creating the problem he faces when Gwenyth becomes an addict. 

Also. A new hunter comes to light. One that I was not expecting to turn out to be a bad guy at all. Especially how much this one person means to someone she loves. Of course this doesn't make Jace happy, and the fact that a human boy has taken interest in her. I can say much with out spoiling it but angry Jace equals amazingly sexy Jace. (Just sayin')

According to Jace humans are weak. Until he experiences the Craves himself. 

"If you can overcome these desires every time you see me, then the humans are stronger that I have given them credit for," Jace said in a strained voice. "I need some air....and away from you when there is a bed near by." 

I think I stared at that line for five minutes. They are both need each other and crave each other. But then they fight and tear each other apart? I have to say, relationships seem pretty difficult.  I can say that I was hoping they would sleep together and see eye to eye finally but nope. 

Writing this review it took me about an hour to reword this. What happens is a book like this I am afraid of spoiling. So I am going to finish my review off with my thoughts. 

I really enjoyed this book. It falls in place better then the first one did and I found myself laughing through out. One quote stood out to me though:

"Love is just another word to describe slavery," I said. "It ties you to a person, forever binding you. It makes you act foolishly. It's impulsive. It meddles with other emotions, like hate. Worst of all, love blinds, and right now I'm desperate to see the truth."

Now, I am only 15 but I have had boy trouble. And yet love does bind you and make you do stupid things. I think Sarah hit that dead on. 

Another thought. Jace! I want to marry him, he is literally perfect, over protective, and funny. Everything I look for in a guy. Well a fictional guy that is. (Bad luck in the real boy department) 

I am eager for the third book to come out. When it does I am going to be the very first person to buy it (well maybe no the first but on the first day it comes out.) If Sarah keeps up what she has going the third book in the series will be amazingly stunning. The cover's also. All amazing. The books are flawless and I might die waiting for the third. 

                   RATING: ★★★★★

I received an ARC e-book copy of this book from the author herself in exchange for a review.

Review: When First Impressions Are More Than Everything by Amelia Faith

Title: When First Impressions Are More Than Everything
Author: Amelia Faith
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 Stars)
Published on Amazon through CreateSpace
Sequel to When Everyone Thinks You're Gone

OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD.

Ladies and gentlemen, Amelia Faith has done it again. And I'm going to just say something right now that goes against everything I believe in, especially since I am an incredibly dedicated John Green fan, but...

The Fault in Our Stars has NOTHING on this book.

Yes, I just compared a new teenage author's work to a highly acclaimed novel by popular author John Green...and I still think that When First Impressions Are More Than Everything will make you cry harder.

Here's what it's about, for any of you who don't already know:

"If you thought all the drama in Sixteen Cities, Wyoming was over... you thought absolutely wrong. In just a short six months, Charlotte Winters and Emmett Garrison will finally be married. Everything seems to be going smoothly and for once, Charlotte feels like she may be able to have a normal life ahead of her with her true love by her side. But things aren't settling down that quickly for these two young lovers. In fact, things are just starting up. Between uncovering a dirty secret from her father's past and then coping with Emmett's unexpected news from above on top of planning the biggest day of her life, Charlotte's about to get a lot on her plate and fast. As for Ainslie? She's going through something all her own; something that she had vowed she would never let happen to her again, and all because she refused to believe that someone could really care about her. Secrets unravel and truths are spoken in this sequel to Amelia Faith's debut novel that explores the concept that everything you see and know... may not be all it seems to be."

Even reading the description after I've already finished this book (which took me about 8 hours to do) still makes me all jittery. I can openly admit how hard I cried for WETYG, especially in the ending when *spoiler alert* Justin gave Emmett the ring inscribed, "Take care of my girl."

*Dead.*

Amelia Faith still wows me with her writing abilities when she's the same age that I am. I mean, wow. She has such an incredible talent, and she should definitely stick to writing. The way she portrays her characters is just incredible--no matter how much you may dislike them (like I disliked Emmett in the first book for stealing Charlotte from Justin), you'll fall in love with them either way. (...This part is also true.)

Even the drama with Ainslie, Spike, and Emmett's brother (whose name I do not feel like searching for in the book right now) kept me drawn to the story and eager to keep reading.

(The next part contains lots of spoilers, so look away if you have to...)

Now, onto two hot topics that I'm just DYING to discuss:

#1: Justin is a FATHER?! (Well, was a father??) Oh my god, as soon as I read this part I dropped my iPad and started freaking the heck out. I'm not ashamed to say I'm Team Justin--so reading that he'd done such a thing with such a snotty character makes my heart break. And how could he keep that from Charlotte from all of these years? HOW?????

#2: Emmett and Charlotte are finally married. I have to say something and get all of my fangirling out before I finish talking about this topic, so:

SDFGHJKJLSHFALSFHLSAHGLDRVHLDAKGALKSDGFLGadsjaslkfhlashdflshgklh!!!

I LOVE EMMETT AND CHARLOTTE GETTING MARRIED SO MUCH. Their wedding day was absolutely perfect and as much as I love Emmett, I still wish Justin could have stayed...and not leave forever. :-(

I'm so, so sad that there won't be another book coming after this one. Amelia Faith is an excellent writer, and that's all there really is left to say. (Well, that's not true. Even though Emmett has proven to be amazing, I will always, ALWAYS be Team Justin.)

There. Now I'm done. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go hunt for some tissues to dry up my tears.

*Pathetic sniffle*

Review: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Title: Dare You To
Author: Katie McGarry
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 Stars)
Hardcover, 456 Pages
Published May 2013
Book #2 in the Pushing The Limits Series

"I AM LITERALLY FREAKING RIGHT NOW I LOVE RYAN SO MUCH AND I LOVE KATIE MCGARRY AND THE END OF THIS BOOK WAS JUST...ASDFLHKHDOAKDKDKS."

What was that?! That was my initial reaction as soon as I read the last sentence of this book. And let me just say, this book was absolutely awesome and totally deserves the five stars that I gave it. As soon as I finished, I immediately had to text a good friend of mine, who finished the book right before I did and then passed it off to me.

Well, needless to say, we both agreed that McGarry is an absolutely excellent writer. Here's what Dare You To was all about:

"If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all...."

I AM STILL FREAKING OUT, AND I FINISHED THIS BOOK HALF AN HOUR AGO. Beth and Ryan's relationship is something so uncommon, so unreal. Even though plenty of books tend do to the bad boy and good girl love story cliche (which can actually be found in Pushing The Limits [Pushing The Limits, #1] by Katie McGarry), reversing the roles of the "good" and "bad" characters was the first interesting thing that McGarry did.

Second of all, McGarry tied both Ryan and Beth together in a seamless way that didn't even feel like I was reading a cliche. Why? Because I wasn't! When I look back on it now, one way to describe this story would be by saying that a good guy loves a bad girl, the whole town disagrees, and they find a way to make it work. That sounds like a major cliche.

But McGarry must have some supernatural writing ability, because I didn't feel that at all!  I've read 2/3 books in the Pushing The Limits series so far, and not once have I been unhappy with anything that I've read.

McGarry is a true genius. She makes Beth's character come alive, especially in the beginning, as a fiery, temperamental teen girl who is misunderstood, hates her surroundings, and just wants to go back to where she came from.

Naturally, the hottest guy in school falls in love with her.

I can't even think straight to keep writing this review, because my mind is still spinning with how McGarry ended the book flawlessly. Seriously. Most books I finish usually leave me with a good list of questions that I'm dying to find out. But the way McGarry ended Dare You To...it's like all of the questions were answered.

Because they were!

McGarry is true talent and I know I'll be pleased with the rest of the Pushing The Limits series as it continues to be released.

Review: Forgotten by Sarah J. Pepper

Title: Forgotten (Book #1 in The Fate Trilogy)

Author: Sarah J. Pepper

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, God, Goddess

Page Count: 369

Publisher: Neximus Publishing

Summary~ 

Gwyneth’s chronicle began long before she witnessed her family being brutally murdered and lost her sight. Living as an orphan, her world is anything but black and white. She sees her vivid future that promises suffering and death. Cursed with these visions, Gwyneth pretends to be like everyone else, until a dangerously charismatic, young man walks into her life. From the moment Jace lays eyes on her, he refuses to believe Gwyneth is normal. He knows information about her past that only a psychopathic stalker could dig up. He reveals her dirty secrets. Unbeknownst details of Gwyneth’s former life unfurl.
Unsure of what to believe, Gwyneth searches for answers that lead to her inconceivable fate. However, the ancient truth she uncovers is more dangerous than any high school romance she’d bargained for. Gwyneth is drug into an inevitable battle brewing between immortal Gods and ageless Hunters – both of which have sworn to swear to kill her if deemed necessary.

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First thought when I started to read the book: She is blind. How is this going to work? Well Sarah made is work alright. I constantly forgot that Gwyneth was blind. She is independent, stubborn, and has a dark past. One she doesn't even know about. 

Through Gwyneth's flashbacks we see her past life, and the murder of her family (Which ties into the whole plot line.) It was confusing until the end when you found out who and what she is. The flash backs are of all different things that she thinks are going to happen in the future, but she eventually learns they happened in her past.  

My thoughts were really conflicted on this book. I liked it, then is confused me, then I didn't like it. But overall it was really well written with a interesting plot line. 

So Gwyneth was originally Denio who Jace killed (the reason is confusing) and all the other deity's took oath to find the faith sisters who are the strongest goddesses there are? Confusing. BUT when you read the second book in the series everything is easier to understand. 

I am going to end this review now. I have nothing more to say about the book other then I really really enjoyed it (and that I didn't sleep) 

                  RATING: ★★★★★

Review: Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

Title: Burn for Burn
Author: Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian
Rating: ★★ (2/5 Stars)
Hardcover, 358 Pages
Published September 2012
Book #1 in the Burn for Burn Series, I guess????*

Before I start reviewing this book, I'm going to give you all a plot summary so you can at least understand some of this book (and then maybe sorta kinda maybe agree with me on why it wasn't one of my favorites):

"Lillia has never had any problems dealing with boys who like her. Not until this summer, when one went too far. No way will she let the same thing happen to her little sister.

Kat is tired of the rumours, the insults, the cruel jokes. It all goes back to one person– her ex-best friend– and she's ready to make her pay.

Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she's not the same girl anymore. And she's ready to prove it to him.

Three very different girls who want the same thing: sweet, sweet revenge. And they won't stop until they each had a taste."

I'm going to be completely honest: I picked this book up at my library because I was browsing the YA new book section and the other book that I wanted to borrow was taken out. Bummed, I decided to look for something else to read--and Burn for Burn's cover definitely caught my attention.

After I read the description, I thought to myself that this was going to be a cool, sneaky, mysterious story about three girls getting revenge on three people who definitely deserved it. I guess you can say that's the case, but towards the end, it wasn't.

Throughout the duration of the book, I was pleased and found nothing that made me unhappy...Lillia, Kat and Mary all had legitimate reasons to want to seek revenge on Alex, Rennie and Reeve (quick side note: what kind of names are Rennie and Reeve?), and their revenge plots were legitimate things that were pretty awesome, funny, and could really happen. It wasn't unrealistic in that sense, not at all. It was pretty good. Very well written realistic, young adult fiction.

That is, until Han and Vivian decided to throw in a bit of a supernatural twist. *Shakes head and sighs* Yep, they did it, folks--they threw a supernatural element into a perfectly fine book.

Can you guess what that did?

IT RUINED IT.

**Okay, this next part will contain a few spoilers, so consider yourself warned!!!!***

I liked the book just fine until the authors decided to give Mary some weird supernatural abilities. I never thought much about how all of the lockers in the hallways slammed when she screamed Reeve's name--I thought that part was metaphorical and wasn't to be taken seriously. Then, when Rennie fell off the top of the cheer pyramid, it couldv'e just been creative irony and such. Why couldn't they just chalk it up to irony and leave it at that, instead of deciding that Mary is using some freaky voodoo supernatural powers?!

Lastly, the ending of this book was extremely unsatisfying for me. They go to the homecoming dance, yeah, yeah. They give Reeve the ecstasy, like planned. Uh huh. But then he has a seizure, breaks his leg, is possibly dead, Mary makes the lights explode, Lillia is homecoming queen, and the book's last words are that they hope they don't get caught.

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

That's literally my reaction. Nothing else to say.

*I said "I guess" because Goodreads says in parenthesis that this book is (Burn for Burn, #1), but the end of the book doesn't have any indication of another book coming out, even though it left us on a bit of an awkward cliffhanger.