Summer of Sloane by Erin L. Schneider

Title: Summer of Sloane
Author: Erin L. Schneider
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Release Date: May 3rd 2016
Source: Arc from the publisher. Thank you Disney-Hyperion! 

Summary from Goodreads:

Warm Hawaiian sun. Lazy beach days. Flirty texts with her boyfriend back in Seattle.

These are the things seventeen-year-old Sloane McIntyre pictured when she imagined the summer she’d be spending at her mom’s home in Hawaii with her twin brother, Penn. Instead, after learning an unthinkable secret about her boyfriend, Tyler, and best friend, Mick, all she has is a fractured hand and a completely shattered heart.

Once she arrives in Honolulu, though, Sloane hopes that Hawaii might just be the escape she needs. With beach bonfires, old friends, exotic food, and the wonders of a waterproof cast, there’s no reason Sloane shouldn’t enjoy her summer. And when she meets Finn McAllister, the handsome son of a hotel magnate who doesn’t always play by the rules, she knows he’s the perfect distraction from everything that’s so wrong back home.

But it turns out a measly ocean isn’t nearly enough to stop all the emails, texts, and voicemails from her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, desperate to explain away their betrayal. And as her casual connection with Finn grows deeper, Sloane’s carefree summer might not be as easy to find as she’d hoped. Weighing years of history with Mick and Tyler against their deception, and the delicate possibility of new love, Sloane must decide when to forgive, and when to live for herself.

Review

Summer of Sloane was not what I was expecting at all in a surprising way. I was expecting a light summery book with a strong romance element yet instead it was a story of a young girl finding happiness in herself and her surroundings.

Friendship, trust, and starting over are some of the major themes throughout. The friendship aspects were heartfelt and honest, while at times the drama seemed a little much it also seem feasible. Some friendships are hard and Sloane has her fair share of complicated friendships both new and old. She has to face tough decisions and also gets called out for some of her actions. Sloane grows up some during the course of the summer, she learns about choices her family made and choices her friends made that really force her to reevaluate her thoughts.

While I did really enjoy the story line, the character development (specifically Sloane), and the friendship dynamics, Summer of Sloane was not as uplifting and light as I was looking for. It did make me pause and think and really take in the circumstances of the story but I did not finish the book with an overwhelming happy feeling. It was much more along the lines of, ‘Oh, this was pretty good.’ I do recommend it though if you are looking for a character driven plot, believable high school struggles, and a beautiful Hawaii setting.

Endless by Kate Brian

Title: Endless
Author: Kate Brian
Series: Shadowlands #3
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Release Date: July 22, 2014
Pages: 304
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:
An unthinkable betrayal threatens everyone Rory loves in the third installment of our dark, thrilling Shadowlands series from New York Times best-selling author Kate Brian.

Rory Miller didn't just fall in love with Tristan Parrish. She fell in love with the idea of forever. He was the one who told her the truth about her existence in Juniper Landing: that her mortal life is over, and she will now spend eternity on the island, helping others in limbo move on.

But like Juniper Landing, a bright island with dark secrets, Tristan is too good to be true. The mysterious, heartbreakingly beautiful boy Rory thought she knew is responsible for unthinkable evil-sending good souls to the Shadowlands in order to get himself a second chance at life on Earth. He has already claimed Rory's friend Aaron and her own father, but when SPOILER Tristan sends her sister, Darcy, to the Shadowlands, too, Rory decides to take matters into her own hands. She will do anything to save her family, even if it means going to hell and back.

Review

The Shadowlands series has completely taken me by surprise. Each and every book in this series has been nail-bitingly good and together they create one hell of a story. I don't think there was ever a dull moment.

In this final installment, all hell has officially broken loose on Juniper Island. The rules that typically govern the island no longer apply and it's anybody's guess what is going to happen next. Kate Brian took full advantage of this and gave us plenty of twists and non-stop action. It's still unclear who the bad guy is, how many are working together, and what his/her/their end game is. I was desperate to find out what was going on and I couldn't read fast enough. This book was just as suspenseful and spooky as the first two.

But there were two things which ultimately detracted from this conclusion. The first is that there was a completely pointless, ill-timed and poorly constructed love triangle that popped up out of nowhere. I am quite disappointed about it but not so disappointed that it changed the whole tone of the book for me. The second is that there were many questions that went unanswered. I knew this was coming as I was reading because there were just too many variables but I was still a little taken aback by the ending. I am still not sure how I feel about it as an ending, truthfully, and there are a few questions I would have like answered for peace of mind. But again, although this was a drawback, it didn't tip the scales too far because I really enjoyed the rest of the book. I can't say it will be the same for everyone.

I found the The Shadowlands series to be utterly unique. I loved the suspense. I loved the eery feel to the story. I loved that anything was possible. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I was thoroughly entertained the entire time. I definitely recommend this one despite whatever flaws it might have.

Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Don't Look Back
Author: Jennifer L Armentrout
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Release Date:  April 15th 2014
Pages: Hardcover, 369 pages
Source: YA Book Exchange

Summary from Goodreads:
Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend.

Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash.

But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?

What I Liked

• The main character, Sam. Previous to her accident, Sam was not a nice person.  Post accident she realized she did not like who she was and she decided to change and re-invent herself.  The way Sam started to be a nicer and more loving person not only helped the progress of the story but also made her a protagonist that was easy to cheer for. 
• The pacing.  From the mysterious notes, to the suspicious characters, and an unraveling past,   the plot never slowed.  I ended up staying up until 2am because I HAD to KNOW who did/did not do it. Besides the thrilling mystery, Armentrout mixes in a subtle love story that builds and maintains its own tension.  
• The doubt and mystery.  Not only do you start to doubt Sam but there were clues that had me second guessing the entire time who was to blame in Cassie's disappearance.  I changed who I thought was the bad guy about at least 5 times.  
• The ending.  I loved that this book was a standalone and there was a true ending.  The ending made sense of the clues and the mystery.  The last 30 pages were high stress but I am happy to say that I did not guess the ending.  It remained unpredictable all the way through.  

What I Didn't

• Nothing really.  There was truly not much that I disliked, the only thing that could have made it even better would be a bit more from the love story.  It was still great but would have loved to be able to read a bit more about the happy ending.  

Bottom Line

Don't Look Back had me on edge the entire book; JLA's captivating writing style had me so immersed in the suspense and thrill of this fantastic mystery.  I highly recommend Don't Look Back if you are in the mood for a surprising fast paced page-turner.
  

The Rules for Breaking (The Rules for Disappearing #2) by Ashley Elston

Title: The Rules for Breaking
Author: Ashley Elston
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Release Date: May 20, 2014
Pages: 320
Source: ARC, ALA

Summary from Goodreads:
Anna Boyd almost lost her life to get what she wanted most in the world: freedom.

But just when it seems that her family has finally escaped Witness Protection, the illusion that Anna could resume a normal life comes crashing down.

The deadly man Anna knows as Thomas is still on the loose, and now he's using her as a pawn in a dangerous game with the drug cartel determined to silence her forever. When Thomas and a mysterious masked man capture not only Anna but also her fragile younger sister and her boyfriend, Anna decides it's time to break all the rules-even if it means teaming up with the lesser of two evils.

Anna will do whatever it takes to protect the people she loves and win her life back once and for all. But her true enemies are hidden in plain sight. Before long, Anna will learn that putting her trust in anyone may be the last mistake she ever makes.

Review

I liked The Rules for Disappearing well enough – interesting premise, plot and pacing - but The Rules for Breaking was much more fun, much more engaging, much more my kind of book.

Anna is thrust into the middle of a dangerous power struggle and no matter how hard she tries to take control of the situation, the bad guys always seem to be a step ahead. I love these kind of stories. The stakes are high. People are bound to get hurt. Everyone is trying to out-maneuver everyone else. You can't trust anyone. And just when you think you understand everyone's motives, and have a sense of how things are going to go down, something happens or is revealed that changes everything. I don't know how believable the events in this story were, but this book was undoubtably unpredictable and exciting.

And there were a few other little details to complement all the excitement. This sequel takes place in New Orleans. And although the setting wasn't given a ton of attention, it still added a certain spooky feel to the story. And in their captivity, the girls found letters in the ceiling that belonged to a young girl who was locked away in that same attic many years ago, whose story was a local legend. Not only am I fascinated with old stories and things but this kind of detail is a definite plus for me.

Teeny, and Anna's protectiveness of her, warmed my heart as usual. I found Anna to be quite resourceful in this sequel, which did make me like her more than I had in The Rules for Disappearing. But Anna and Ethan still don't spark any strong emotion in me, individually or together. But I didn't not like them. I wouldn't exactly call this a shortcoming, it just didn't add to the story for me.

The Rules for Breaking was a strong sequel to finish off a welcomely different story. I definitely recommend this duology.

PS: These duologies lately are just kicking trilogy ass.

ARC-REVIEW: These Broken Stars (Starbound #1) by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

Title: These Broken Stars
Series: Starbound #1
Author: Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Release Date: December 10th 2013
Pages: Hardcover, 374 pages
Source: ARC from BEA

Summary from Goodreads:
It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

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A timeless love story, THESE BROKEN STARS sets into motion a sweeping science fiction series of companion novels. The Starbound Trilogy: Three worlds. Three love stories. One enemy.

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• Each chapter started with a bit of dialogue from Taver's police questioning.  It was an amusing and different way to get to know Taver and see more of his personality.  Which made him even more likeable. 
• The world building and science fiction elements are some of the best I have read this year.  Kaufman and Spooner draw this dangerously mysterious and beautiful world that challenges Taver and Lilac on so many levels.  Both the space travel and the planet life are so vivid and perfectly created it is easy to just immerse yourself into the story.  It also lets you focus on the relationships and the mystery instead of having to try and understand the world they live in. 
• Taver is witty and stubborn at times which combined with his strength and soldier mentality to create a very likeable and real character.  His internal dialogue had me chuckling and the chemistry between Lilac and him was great.  
• I did originally think I knew where the plot was going and it was easy to guess how the romance unfolds but I was pleasantly surprised with the development of Lilac and some of the other plot twists the story took.  Lilac held her own, grew into her role, and was able to surprise me with her strength in the situations.  
• As always, I loved the dual point of views and how I could read the character's thoughts. I felt like I could feel the chemistry between Taver and Lilac and could better understand each character. 

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• There was not much I did not like, I thought parts of the plot were a bit predictable but the story line and writing were so good I did not mind.  
• I did get a bit confused near the end of the book when certain things happened with Lilac.  I felt like I missed something or some clear understanding of how things happened and how the ending happened. 

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These Broken Stars is a beautifully vivid story that blends science fiction space travel and other crazy events with some romance. The plot is full of suspense and mystery that is driven by the banter and adventure of two fantastic characters.
  

REVIEW: The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Title: The Naturals

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Release Date: November 5, 2013

Pages: 304, Hardcover
Source: Audiobook, Library

Summary from Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But it’s not a skill that she’s ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they’ve begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie.

What Cassie doesn’t realize is that there’s more at risk than a few unsolved homicides— especially when she’s sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own.

Sarcastic, privileged Michael has a knack for reading emotions, which he uses to get inside Cassie’s head—and under her skin. Brooding Dean shares Cassie’s gift for profiling, but keeps her at arm’s length.

Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms closer than Cassie could ever have imagined. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive.

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• This is totally teen Criminal Minds with a paranormal twist. And I LOVE Criminal Minds. I can't get enough crime-story-type books and I especially enjoy the darker ones that dig into the mind of serial killers. As appalling as some of these stories are (and how paranoid I've become since watching/reading them) I find them fascinating. 


• I loved the gifts that the Naturals possessed - I always enjoy stories involving abilities. I think it was interesting to see how the Naturals used their gifts to solve cases and I particularly enjoyed how their gifts shaped their interactions with each other. Imagine not being able to lie or hide your emotions - yikes! 


• I loved the cat and mouse game going on. This is another book that provides the killers POV throughout the story and you all know I love getting the bad guys POV. 


• The mystery. I didn't exactly see that ending coming. Really, this book was so fast-paced that I didn't have time to predict anything. I liked how the case was solved but some parts of the story are still left open for later. I imagine there will be more books. 

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• I believe in coincidences but this book relied on them and when things are too improbable it bugs me. That's all I can say without giving anything away. 


• The love triangle. Cassie was all over the place. It felt like all it took was for a boy to look at her for her to develop feelings for him. I wasn't convinced why she liked either boy. The whole romance aspect just felt like a plot extra. 


• I wish the Naturals had the chance to actually solve cases as a team. This was mostly about Cassie learning the ropes, stumbling upon a case, and figuring it out in time for the big ending ( with the aid of her two gentlemen). We didn't really get to see the unit work together. 

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This book was a ton of fun. Despite the romance and the unlikelihood of things, I really enjoyed it. It was a compelling crime story, with a nice touch of paranormal and drama.