Altered by Jennifer Rush

Summary: "Seventeen-year-old Anna finds herself on the run from her father's enigmatic Branch, along with the four teen boys the Branch had been experimenting on, as they try to make sense of erased memories, secret identities, and genetic alteration."

Wow - I finished this one in just a day! I couldn't put it down, which is such a wonderful feeling. The description sounds a bit cheesy, but honestly, it was a great story. It moved quickly and therefore kept the reader engaged and on his/her toes. 

On to #2!


323 pages

Chasing Truth by Julie Cross

Summary: "When former con artist Eleanor Ames's homecoming date commits suicide, she's positive there's something more going on . The more questions she asks, though, the more she crosses paths with Miles Beckett. He's sexy, mysterious, arrogant...and he's asking all the same questions."

I am on a Julie Cross kick, and I'm not sorry. I was pleasantly surprised by Eleanor's wit, and I laughed out loud more than I expected. The plot's big mystery was a bit of a let-down, but all the other characters were fun and interesting.

How can you go wrong with a character and book that is partially inspired by Veronica Mars?! You just can't. 

I am hopeful that the series will continue to be a hit! The second installment is scheduled to come out April 17, 2018. 

400 pages

Off the Ice (Juniper Falls #1) by Julie Cross

A high-school love story that takes place in small-town, hockey-obsessed Minnesota? Sign me up!

When the author revealed that part of her inspiration for this series of novels is the All Hockey Hair team videos from the Minnesota State high School hockey tournament on YouTube, I was beyond sold. Those videos are some of my favorite on the Internet - please give them a watch! 

Off the Ice is a nice start to hopefully a long series about the community and culture surrounding high school hockey in Minnesota. At times, this particular story was a bit too serious and depressing for me. I know Julie Cross can write more compelling and humorous stories than what this one ultimately turned out to be. 

352 pages

Retribution Rails by Erin Bowman

Summary: "Ten years after the events of Vengeance Road, Reece Murphy, who has been forced to join the Rose Riders gang, must work with aspiring journalist Charlotte Vaughn to get free."

Whew! This is how a companion novel should be done! Shout out to Becky for helping me find this series. 

I am eagerly anticipating the next installment, and anxiously hoping that more YA western novels will be written soon. This series is a treat!

374 pages

Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman

Summary: "When her father is killed by the notorious Rose Riders for a mysterious journal that reveals the secret location of a gold mine, eighteen-year-old Kate Thompson disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers--and justice."

After binge-watching Godless on Netflix, I was in the mood for a western story. Vengeance Road was the perfect fix! A fun, vengeful and fast-paced story full of gritty characters and settings.

You can definitely judge this book by its awesome cover, as the adventure waiting inside is just as awesome. 

327 pages

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Summary: "Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one in the journalism community is more astounded than Monique herself... Regardless of why Evelyn has chosen her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career...But as Evelyn's story catches up with the present, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique's own in tragic and irreversible ways."

I adore Taylor Jenkins Reid. Her stories are so human, simple and poignant. Except this one. It was disappointing and oftentimes felt forced. None of the characters, settings or storytelling felt natural. None of the reveals were surprising or interesting. I couldn't understand what the point of this elaborate story was supposed to be. There is no conclusion or satisfaction found at the end. Just bitter disappointment and frustration. 

I ultimately hated this book. I honestly wish I had never read it. I remain hopeful that TJR's books will redeem themselves in the future. 

391 pages

Shimmer and Burn by Mary Taranta

Summary: "To save her sister's life, Faris is tasked with smuggling magic into a plague-ridden neighboring kingdom." 

The magic and plot-lines of this story are astonishingly convoluted. I didn't understand how the magic worked in the slightest, which made most of the plot murky and confusing. The confusion led to a disinterest in the characters, as well as minimal reactions to "exciting" events or reveals because I didn't get it. At all. 

Would not recommend. 

330  pages

Daughter of the Burning City

Sorina is next in line to rule over Gomorrah, a traveling carnival city both vilified and exalted for its vices.  Born without eyes and possessing the power to create illusions so real they seem alive, Sorina and her freak-show family take little notice of the political maneuverings Gomorrah must navigate for survival.  However, the murder of one of her family forces Sorina to explore the darker side of Gomorrah and the darker side of herself.

This debut novel is as intriguing as it is twisted.  The illusions Sorina creates are unique, although one in particular - an old man covered in fingernails where there should be hair - turned my stomach enough that I actively skipped sections about him.  While the villain was predictable, the 'twist' was not, and while Sorina is often unlikable, petulant even, the supporting characters were worth the overdone teenage angst.

Read this book if you like your YA fiction just a little dark, a whole lot strange, and character driven.  4 out of 5.

384 pages

The Fallen Kingdom by Elizabeth May

The Falconer trilogy concludes with its final installment, The Fallen Kingdom. 

And still no falcons! Argh!

Part of the reason I picked up this series was the assumption that a series called "Falconer" would actually have something to do with falcons. But there were literally NO FALCONS anywhere! 

Disappointing. 

It should have been called "faery-hunter" or something more indicative of what the actual story is about. 

Anyway, this series was a fun and fantastical journey, and I'm glad I read it. 

389 pages

Amid the Stars and Darkness by Chani Lynn Feener

Summary: "Delaney's entire world is thrown into chaos after she is mistaken for Lissa Olena, an alien princess hiding out on Earth in order to escape an arranged marriage. Kidnapped by the princess's head bodyguard, Ruckus, and imprisoned in an alien palace, Delaney is forced to impersonate the princess until Olena can be found. If she fails, it will lead to an alien war and the eventual enslavement of the entire human race. No pressure or anything. Factor in Trystan--the princess's terrifying betrothed who is intent on unraveling all her secrets--and her own growing feelings for Ruckus, and Delaney is in way over her head."

The cover is beautiful. 

The story is wonderful. 

I couldn't put it down. 

I can't wait for the next one to be published next July! 

Me while reading this book: 

357 pages

The Vanishing Throne, Falconer Book 2 by Elizabeth May

Summary: Kam is now in a world of trouble, dealing with the destructive consequences of the outbreak of Fae in Edinburgh. 

Whew! The Vanishing Throne ups the story line of the Falconer series in a tremendous way. This installment is much longer and more intricate than the first book. May truly expands her story and the world in fascinating ways. Even though it had a different vibe from the first book, I couldn't put it down toward the end. The action scenes still remain my favorite part - they keep me on the edge of my seat. 

And I LOVE Derrick, Kam's companion pixie. He is a delight, and I will riot if anything bad ever happens to him. 

Also, why are there no falcons in a book series about Falconers?! And I was disappointed by the lack of steampunk in this book. Where are Kam's inventions and awesome weapons?

458 pages

Shuffle, Repeat by Jen Klein

Summary: Even though Oliver and June have vastly different tastes in music and outlooks on the high school experience, the two form an unlikely friendship during their car rides to school each morning during their senior year. 

Oliver is the perfect high school boy, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about his friendship with June. June's character was overbearing and unkind at times. She thinks she's smarter and better than everyone else, which became so annoying that I almost started to root against her. Oliver deserves better! 

Overall, their banter was fun and infectious, and I enjoyed watching them slowly fall in love. No insta-love here! 

327 pages

The Falconer by Elizabeth May

Summary: Aileana Kameron is intent on avenging her mother's death...by hunting and killing every fae in Scotland. She has help from a pixie, a Seer and even a powerful fae himself, Kiaran MacKay. 

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It's steampunk, faery-hunting and historical Scotland all rolled into one quirky and quickly-moving story. The action scenes were my favorite parts, and the author doesn't get bogged down in filler. It isn't perfect, but still enjoyable. 

Favorite Quote: "I want to be there with you until the end." 

378 pages

Honor's Knight (Paradox #2) by Rachel Bach

Summary: "After a mysterious attack left [Devi Morris] short several memories and one partner, she's determined to keep her head down, do her job, and get on with her life. But even though Devi's not actually looking for it, trouble keeps finding her. She sees things no one else can, the black stain on her hands is growing, and she's entangled with the cook she thought she hated."

Even though I adored Fortune's Pawn, this second installment in the Paradox series fell flat. The adventure was stale and the plot developments were boring and confusing. I still love Devi's voice, personality and grim determination, but I felt at times that the fun of the first book was lost. I hope the third and final book will prove to be a satisfying conclusion. 

375 pages

Onyx (Lux #2) by Jennifer Armentrout

Summary: "Kat struggles to stay away from Daemon Black, despite being connected to him through his alien powers, and when the Department of Defense comes to town she fears what will happen if they discover what Daemon can do and that she is linked to him."

Onyx wasn't quite as thrilling as Obsidian, but it was still a fun and solid sequel. Kat is growing as a character, which is nice to watch unfold. She is becoming quite powerful, and it is interesting to see how Daemon responds to Kat's capabilities. 

366 pages

Fortune's Pawn by Rachel Bach

Summary: "When professional mercenary Deviana Morris took the security guard job aboard the Glorious Fool, all she wanted was a fast route into the Devastators -- the elite league of armored fighters entrusted with the most important duty on her home planet of Paradox. But this security job isn't just twelve-hour patrols, armor-polishing, and whiskey. The supposedly-cursed Captain Caldswell keeps sending Devi and her partner into unimaginably dangerous situations."

I've been in the mood for an awesome, adventure-packed space novel, and Fortune's Pawn fit the bill! The first installment in the Paradox series was fun, suspenseful and interesting. I loved Devi as a brave and determined heroine. She was well-rounded, clever and still flawed. I can't wait to read the next one!

340 pages

Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout

Summary: "When seventeen-year-old Katy moves to West Virginia she expects to be bored, until she meets her neighbor who just happens to be an alien."

I had been in a bit of a reading slump, and this book pulled me right out. It's not a new story or unique in any way, but I was intrigued by the alien lore, the love/hate story, and the action scenes. Katy is an interesting and relatable heroine. I hope the next books in the series are just as good!

335 pages

Suddenly One Summer by Julie James

Summary: "Divorce lawyer Victoria Slade has seen enough unhappy endings to swear off marriage forever. That doesn't mean she's opposed to casual dating--just not with her cocky new neighbor, who is as gorgeous and tempting as he is off-limits."

Another fun read from Julie James! I love reading the fancy lives of her characters in Chicago. The way she describes their world is fascinating and interesting. I hope she continues with this series, but I hope that she adds a little more action and intrigue to her future books. They are getting a little too procedural and not enough WOW factor. 

291 pages

Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Summary: "On board the Jump Station Heimdall, Hanna is the captain's pampered daughter; Nik a member of a notorious crime family. When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station's wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two. The fate of the Hypatia-- and possibly the known universe-- is in their hands."

I want Amie Kaufman to write anything and everything. I would read a grocery list if it was written by her.

The creativity and story-telling in the Illuminae series is unmatched. I don't know how I'm going to find another book to read after this. 

659 pages

Geekerella by Ashley Poston

Summary: "Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic sci-fi series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball, and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot."

This book was cute-ish and fun-ish. I appreciated the Cinderella parallels, and the sci-fi geekiness. 

However, I needed just a little bit more drama and pay-off at the end. 

319 pages