Blog Tour/Book Review: Emerald Isle by Kate Hinderer

Hello Readers,

Today I'm pleased to be back on the Blog tour for Emerald Isle, her sophomore novel. I was thrilled when Kate Hinderer asked me if I wanted to be a part of the blog tour. A month ago I posted a guest post by Kate that explained where she got inspiration for her idea. You can check out that post here. 

Today I'm pleased to be reviewing her novel. But before I get into my review, here's the synopsis:

To escape a bad break-up and fighting parents Audyn takes a job as a lifeguard at Fascination Island. The posh five-star resort lives up to its name in every way, including the strange rules the owner has about entering the water at night. Despite declaring it a boy-free summer, it isn’t long before the shy, endearing Levi and the mysterious, tattooed Tristan begin vying for her attention. When Levi tries to push his advantage and Tristan comes to the rescue, Audyn realizes there is more to both these boys and the island they inhabit. Suddenly, she’s forced to acknowledge a reality she’d never considered and to pick a side in the conflict that has been waging for decades.

For more in formation about Kate or her novel, click this link.

And now for my review:

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I went into this novel with no expectations. I had read the synopsis which sounded good but other than that I really didn't know what to expect.

From the very first page, Kate Hinderer convinced me that accepting this novel for review was a great decision. Her characters were compelling and cast in a realistic light. Nothing annoys me more than characters who are perfect or are clearly molds of character types.

Her characters brought the story to life for me. I can't think of one character that I didn't adore. Levi and Tristan were both so intriguing. While I was rooting for Tristan from the beginning, I will not deny that Levi had his charm and proved to be a very complex character.

Then there was Audyn. Kate did a fantastic job at revealing the mind of a teenage girl who has been burned one too many times. She had trust issues and relationship problems, and yet she was a great protagonist to read about. I found myself sympathizing with her and rooting her on.

Then on top of that all the supporting characters were incredible. I loved hearing about each and every one of them. I could delve into a long paragraph about each of them but I don't think you would appreciate that. So let me just say one of my all-time favorite characters was Falcon, which really surprised me. I definitely hope we get to hear more of his story.

Now as for the writing, Kate had a simple yet eloquent writing style that I loved. It was perfect in its simplicity. When I say "simple," I do not mean unrefined or poorly written. I meant that the writing didn't draw undue attention to itself but provided the perfect backdrop to her novel. The dialog was realistic and engaging. It never felt forced which I know is a big deal to many readers. 

In Summary:On the whole, Hinderer's novel will leave you shaking your head at the characters' stupidity, cheering when they triumph, and hurting when they hurt. A brilliantly written novel that I definitely recommend.

Warnings/Side-notes: This novel is actually really clean which I greatly appreciated. I love it when that happens. I'd have no qualms about recommending this to even the most sensitive reader.

The Wrap-up/Other Business: An intensely enjoyable read that I loved reading. I read this one in one sitting and felt very involved. Any book that makes me stop and talk to my roommate about it in the middle of reading it...automatically makes it a book I love.

If you love the young adult genre, read this one. It is a paranormal read (but there are no vampires, werewolves, witches, etc). It is a very refreshing read that is different than any I have read in awhile. That is always an extra bonus.

Basically, this novel is very enjoyable and if you get a chance to read it, you should.

Kate can be reached through her email kate.hinderer@gmail.com, her blog, or her twitter account. You can also find out more aobut her book by clicking this link. For more reviews of this book or guest posts, check out her blog tour schedule.

Love,

Danica Page

Blog Tour/Review/Giveaway: Phantom by Laura DeLuca

Hello Readers,

Today I'm thrilled to be a part of the Phantom blog tour. Phantom is Laura DeLuca's novel and today I'm pleased to post my review of the novel and offer one luck reader a chance to win amazing prices.

But here's the author's biography. 

Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children. She loves writing in the young adult genre because it keeps her young at heart.  In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the sole author of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years.

Contact

Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Buy Links:

Amazon 

And now here's the synopsis of the novel.

The “Phantom” was a musical phenomenon that Rebecca had always found enchanting. She had no idea that her life was about to mirror the play that was her obsession. When her high school drama club chooses “Phantom” as their annual production, Rebecca finds herself in the middle of an unlikely love triangle and the target of a sadistic stalker who uses the lines from the play as their calling card.

Rebecca lands the lead role of Christine, the opera diva, and like her character, she is torn between her two co-stars—Tom the surfer and basketball star who plays the lovable hero, and Justyn, the strangely appealing Goth who is more than realistic in the role of the tortured artist.

Almost immediately after casting, strange things start to happen both on and off the stage. Curtains fall. Mirrors are shattered. People are hurt in true phantom style. They all seem like accidents until Rebecca receives notes and phone calls that hint at something more sinister. Is Justyn bringing to life the twisted character of the phantom? Or in real life are the roles of the hero and the villain reversed? Rebecca doesn’t know who to trust, but she knows she’s running out of time as she gets closer and closer to opening night. Only when the mask is stripped away, will the twenty first century phantom finally be revealed.

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimers: I received an electronic copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I did not receive any compensation for my review nor was I obligated to write a positive review. The tour host may have received some compensation for setting up the tour, but I did not.

My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I know I have always had a soft spot for The Phantom of the Opera. Seriously, the plot is so riveting and compelling. How could you not have a soft spot for it?

So when I learned this novel was a retelling of the Phantom of the Opera I was ecstatic. I have never read a retelling of this novel and I was psyched to see if DeLuca could pull this off. She did in stunning fashion.

The world she set up left me thoroughly intrigued and riveted to the story line. From the moment I met Becca (Christine), I found myself rooting for her and thoroughly enraptured by her struggles, joys, triumphs, and heartbreaks.

And then there was Tom(Raul) and Justyn(Phantom). They were both masterfully portrayed and since I've always felt a certain attraction for the Phantom (even thought he's a murderer, don't try to rationalize that one) I was thrilled by the way Justyn was portrayed. He was tortured, artistic, and oh so lovable.

The novel followed the original story line fairly closely, but still differed enough to leave me wondering what would happen next throughout the entire story. Definitely one that left me entertained.

I was not expecting the ending...I usually can predict the ending so that was surprising. It was interesting. I'm not sure what else to say without giving this away, but its definitely unexpected.

In Summary: An imaginative retelling of The Phantom of the Opera that will leave you frantically turning the pages. Definitely recommend this.

Warnings/Side-notes: Minor violence (it is a retelling of the phantom). It's not overly graphic, but death occurs throughout the novel. References to sex, but no actual sex occurs. Very vague references. And another element that I can't share without giving away the plot. It is an element that some may be uncomfortable with; however, I surprisingly wasn't. I wouldn't let that you stop you from reading this one.

The Wrap-up: A novel that exceeded my expectations. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one and definitely recommend it to Phantom fans. DeLuca's writing was solid and I'm thrilled that I had the opportunity to read this one.

And now for your chance to win cool prizes, enter this giveaway. 

Love,

Danica Page

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Circle of Silence by Carol M. Tanzman

Circle of Silence

(WiHi, #2)

by Carol M. Tanzman

Received for Review

Young Adult Realistic Contemporary

Release Date: July 24,2012

Average Goodreads Rating: 3.76

Pages: 304

Before I get into my review, here's the synopsis from Goodreads:

The biggest story of my life could be how it endsIt's my turn to run aCampus News crew, and I've put together a team that can break stories wide open. And Washington Irving High has a truly great one to cover, if only we can find a lead.

A secret society has formed in our school. It announced its presence with pranks: underwear on the flagpole, a toilet in the hallway, cryptic notes. A circle of silence keeps the society a mystery. No one knows its members, agenda or initiation secrets—until a student lands in the hospital under strange circumstances.

I will blow this story wide open and stop others from being hurt…or worse. And while my ex, Jagger, might want to help, I don't trust him yet. (And, no, not because of our past together. That is not important to this story.)

But whether you find me, Valerie Gaines, reporting in front of the camera, or a victim in the top story of the newscast…be sure to watchCampus News at 9:00 a.m. this Friday.

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars. 

Disclaimers: I received a temporary e-galley from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I didn't know this was a sequel until I had finished reading this one so you can definitely read it as a stand-alone novel. 

I'll admit to being curious to see what happens in the first one now. I'll have to go back and read that one.

But let's get into what I thought of this book. I picked it up because it was a bout journalism and I'm a journalist (granted I'm on the print side not broadcasting).

I didn't have high expectations for this novel. I liked the idea of a secret society being formed and figured it would be interesting. What I didn't expect was the secret society to be actually dangerous and so creepy.

Tanzman's writing style drew me in and I loved the characters. I loved Val. She was so intense that she was sometimes narrow-minded but I loved watching her interact with her friends and then of course her ex Jagger. I'm definitely a Jagger fan. He was a bad boy who was not really a bad boy.

I don't know why I love characters like that so much I just do. 

The plot was slightly predictable and I felt like that the police and the faculty should have stepped in much sooner. In that regard, I found the plot slightly unrealistic. These pranks weren't so innocent and were more crimes than pranks. They should have stepped in more forcefully and much sooner.

But having said that, Carol created a thrilling tale full of suspense and while I had unraveled the plot very early it was still a compelling read. My heart was racing while I watched Val recklessly track this story. 

In horror movies, there are always the moments where you want to scream at the protagonist "don't go into the creepy dark basement" "don't open the closet." While reading this book, I had those moments several times. 

I still thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Carol's characters were compelling. The writing was for the most part very well done. Definitely an enjoyable read. It was entertaining and suspenseful. However, it lacked that extra something to push it up to a book that I really loved. 

I wouldn't reread this one or buy it since I've already read it, but wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to fans of this genre.  

In Summary: Carol's novel presents a suspenseful and compelling read that mixes mystery with enough romance to make this a book I adored reading. Compelling characters juxtaposed with an intriguing plot will keep you turning pages until the very end. 

The Wrap-up: This is the sequel but this acts as a stand-alone novel. Carol's writing was intriguing and I'll definitely be curious to see what she writes next. If you like mystery/suspense in the young adult genre, then I recommend this one to you. 

Love,

Danica Page

Blog Tour: Pledged by Gwynneth White

Hello Readers,

I'm part of the blog tour for Gwynneth White's debut novel Pledged. I had the wonderful opportunity of spotlighting her in my feature Blogger in the Spotlight. Click here to read that spotlight. 

Basically Gwynn was a pleasure to work with and so I was thrilled when she contacted me to be part of this tour.

Today I'll be sharing some information the first of three excerpts from her book. But first here's some information about Gwynn and a synopsis of this riveting book which I'll be reviewing in a manner of weeks.

Here's the synopsis that literally makes me drool. Just look at the tagline and tell me you don't want to read this one.

Everyone has a soul mate. But what do you do when your soul mate would rather give his soul to the demons than be with you?

Seventeen-year-old Erin has a problem. Seth has been hers forever, but now an ancient promise is tearing him away. And Reuel, the demon to whom the promise was made, will stop at nothing to force Seth to forsake Erin and to worship him.

How can Erin win against a pledge so binding that it has damned countless others to the same fate she and Seth will face if Reuel wins – an eternity alone?

The answer lies in the past. To find it, Erin and Seth must risk all, travelling back in time to a dangerous world where love is forbidden, and life – and death – hang on a promise.

Follow Erin and Seth as they travel to ancient Shenaya to break the pledge that has plagued their families for millennia. Caught in a war between the Angelic Guardians and the Gefallen, the disembodied dead, they must fight to keep their souls in tact and their love untainted.

See incredible, right? And now here's some information about the author.

I have spent my entire life living in a parallel universe of make-believe characters, only coming back to reality for long enough to check that no one burnt the house down in my absence. A few years ago I decided to commit some of those ‘friends’ and their stories to paper. The Soul Wars Saga is the result of those efforts. Before that I co-authored two non-fiction travel books – The Complete Guide to 4x4 Trails and The Ultimate 4x4 Guide. Both books became instant best-sellers in South Africa where I live. And before that even, I studied a degree in African History and Politics at the University of Stellenbosch. When I’m not writing, I am a wife to Andrew and a mom to Stephanie, Erin, and Kate, our teenage daughters. My family and I live in a small town outside Cape Town with two dogs, a cat, a horse, and some neglected fish. Now that you know a little about me, I would love to get to know you. Please befriend me at:

Twitter: @GwynnethWhite

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gwynneth-White/172095512890074

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7360328-gwynneth-white

Blog: http://todayinshenaya.blogspot.com

Email: gwynnethwhite@4xforum.com

This first excerpt gives you the opportunity to meet some of the main characters. This excerpt gives you the chance to meet Seth and Erin.

Despite the heat, Seth felt icy. Dread could do that to him. Or so he had recently discovered. Deep breathing usually calmed him, so he sucked in a lungful of desert air and told himself to relax. It didn’t help. By the time he’d walked from the aircraft to the immigration hall he’d ripped off a jagged piece of thumbnail, already bitten raw. He handed his US passport to the Botswanan border official, and, after a frown, and a stamp, he joined the crowd at the baggage carousel. Botswana in southern Africa was the last place on earth he’d ever have picked for a holiday destination. But he wasn’t here on holiday. Not even close.

His backpack was slow in coming. Tired from his long-haul flight from New York, he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. Almost as if to mock him, the hated vision that had brought him to Botswana burst into his mind. In an instant he was back in ancient times, watching a man he knew only as Gideon. As usual, Gideon was huddled on a windswept hill with his band of hopeless soldiers, waiting to be slaughtered by a huge army gathered in the valley below.

Seth snapped his eyes open to stop the battle from waging in his mind. It wasn’t that he was particularly squeamish; he’d watched enough movies to iron clad his stomach against gory visuals. But no movie had ever left him icy with dread the way Gideon’s battle did. And the reason for that was simple. The moment the visions had started, he had known that the war, fought so long ago in a place he’d never heard of, was far from over. And, as reluctant as he was, he too was being enlisted to fight in a cause he didn’t understand or want.

He forced himself to focus on the present: Erin, who waited for him in the arrivals hall; his brother Kyle, whom he’d come to Botswana to visit; Kyle’s expedition to find the Lost City of the Kalahari . . .

He ripped off another piece of fingernail. Thinking about the search for the Lost City was almost as bad as the war-vision. I hope Kyle never finds the damned place. He slapped his hand on his thigh. Enough! Grabbing his backpack off the carousel, he set his face into a smile and strode into the arrivals hall.

The first hurdle was finding Erin. She was due to arrive an hour earlier on a flight from Cape Town in South Africa, one of Botswana’s neighbours. He’d never met her, although they had spoken over the phone once. Then she’d described herself as “a short, seventeen-year-old (a year younger than him) with a mass of ginger hair.” She’d sounded nice. Meeting her was the one ray of brightness in this otherwise dark picture.

He stopped to scan the crowd. A petite girl with shoulder length, reddish-blonde curls, dressed in skinny jeans and a purple blouse, immediately caught his eye. It had to be Erin. Nice legs. What’s it with girls that they always under-sell themselves? He studied her face with his artist’s eye. Vermeer would’ve killed to paint her. Suddenly wishing he didn’t look so grimy after his three plane-changes, he walked over to join her. “Hi, I’m Seth. You’ve got to be Erin. My brother’s just married your sister Izzy.”

“And after only knowing each other for about a week.”

Her dimpled grin was infectious, making him crack his trademark crooked smile. “Madness.”

“Mysterious.” Erin cocked her head to one side, seemingly appraising him. He knew he had been accurate when he’d told her he was tall and dark-haired. But what he had failed to mention was what girls had often said they liked about him: his strong, angular face, softened by expressive brown eyes. He watched her eyes rove over his grey Muse: Resistance t-shirt, taking in his broad shoulders and chest. From there they darted down his black camo-pants to his boots. Amused by her blatant assessment, he cocked his head to one side, watching her. Suddenly Erin giggled – was she embarrassed? – and picked up her bag.

“We’ve yet another plane to catch. My fourth in the last twenty-four hours,” Seth said, hoping to explain away his rumpled appearance. “To a place called Maun.”

“So we do. Let the adventure begin.”

 This literally gave me chills. Yes I received this book for review but I haven't actually got to reading it yet....this makes me even more anxious to read this one. It just looks so good.

Hope you enjoyed and be sure to stop by on Friday to read excerpt #2 where you'll meet Jared and Sophia. 

Love,

Danica Page

Computer crashes, Internet Crashes, and Boxes

Hello Readers,

I hate when people come up with a million excuses but I do want to explain why my posts have been sporadic lately.

A week ago it was finals so I only posted required book tours and not much else. Then my computer crashed and then after I got a new computer my internet provider crashed and now I'm in the middle of moving into my new apartment.

But starting next week, I will go back to having a reliable internet and will actually be functioning in my new apartment. 

I know that I have let some things fall through the cracks this week. I missed one of my blog tours because I just couldn't spend enough time on a computer to finish reading it. Sorry! I also haven't posted some of my reviews in as timely of a manner as I would have liked.

So I just wanted to say thanks for bearing with me this summer as I dealt with slow internet and an internet connection that was less than ideal. But this fall I plan on posting on both of my blogs nearly every day.

So thanks for being so understanding while I worked through everything. 

Love,

Danica Page

Book Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Pushing the Limits

by Katie McGarry

Received for Review

Young Adult Realistic/Contemp

Average Goodreads Rating: 4.36

Pages:384

Release Date:July 31,2012

Before I get to my review, here's the synopsis that's available on Goodreads.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimers: I received this book for review as part of the DAC tour. Thanks Lisa and Tara.

My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I had heard really good things about this book going into it so I had really high expectations.

That's always dangerous. This book was nothing like I thought it would be, it was ten times better. 

Echo and Noah were two characters who drew me in. Their stories, their personalities, their struggles, everything made them compelling to read about. 

I generally don't like novels that have two first person narratives. This one made me rethink that prejudice. Both of the characters had such a strong voice that I never had to question whose perspective I was reading from.

The novel had a depth to it that I did not expect. I thought this novel would be a fairly shallow and forgettable book about a popular girl who fell from grace and fell for a unpopular bad boy.

That barely touches the surface of this novel. This novel was genuine and made me think about the way I view the world. This was a book that was all-consuming. I couldn't stop thinking about this book.

To those who like contemporary young adult realistic fiction with heavier subjects with incredible prose and compelling characters who face real problems you will love this book. 

And I'll join the ranks, I'm definitely crushing on Noah too. 

In Summary: McGarry's debut novel is nothing shy of brilliant. She masterfully combines the plot of a popular girl's fall from grace and a good girl falling for the boy from the wrong side of the tracks and breathes life into both of these cliched topics. Her characters are compelling, the plot intriguing, and the novel absolutely captivating. 

Warnings/Side-notes: Lots of swearing and sexual tension. This is definitely for more mature young adult readers. However, it wasn't crude. I really liked this one. 

The Wrap-up: I love this book. McGarry is definitely an author I'll be keeping tabs on. An incredible debut that I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read. Definitely recommend this one to anybody and everybody. One of my favorite young adult novels of the year. And easily, one that I'd consider buying even though I've already read it.  

Love,

Danica Page

Book Review: Reinventing Claire by Darian Wilk

Hello Readers,

Due to computer failures I'm a day late in posting this. So sorry. 

Anyway, today I'm posting my book review of Darian Wilk's Reinventing Claire. I loved Darian's first book Unfinished Love and so naturally I was excited to read this one.

Before I get into my review, here's the synopsis of this book.

People get divorced, but that's what happens to other people. That's what Claire thought anyway, until her husband, Charlie, tells her he wants a divorce.

Claire has no choice but to take on the title of Divorced Woman, and face the question she has no idea how to answer. Who is Claire without Charlie? Her family believes her newly divorced woes can be cured by landing herself a boyfriend. With her dating dunce cap in hand, Claire stumbles her way through the foreign territory of online dating.

A teacher from hell, a softball coach, and a sap later, Claire proclaims herself the dating idiot she thought she was, and fears she's doomed to be a lonely, crazy cat lady. But an accidental run-in with an old acquaintance might change everything. What starts with comparing dating battle wounds over a cup of coffee, quickly turns into something Claire had given up on.

As Claire discovers maybe there is love after Charlie after all, Charlie realizes his mistake. He wants her back, and he'll do anything to prove it to her. Now Claire must choose who deserves her heart, and if she's really willing to give it away again.

Links to be included (if possible):

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13127583-reinventing-claire

Book trailer http://youtu.be/Kkuz670PXCg

Website - http://darianwilk.weebly.com/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/DarianWilk

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Darian-Wilk-Fan-Page/154692967912957

Darian's novel Love Unfinished will also be available for free on Amazon from August 20 through August 24. I enjoyed the first one and strongly recommend that you take advantage of reading this for review. Click here.

Here is some information about the author Darian Wilk. 

I'm a women's fiction writer, author of Love Unfinished and Reinventing Claire. I love the challenge and thrill of putting words onto paper, and forming it into a story. For me, the only thing better than that are my kids.

On the occasions I'm not engulfed in writing, you'll find me reading a book, either for fun or for review on my blog, Crazy Lady with a Pen. When I'm not reading, I'm spending time with my friends and family. Life is too short to pass those beautiful little moments life has to offer by, I want to soak up every moment I can. 

For more information about me, my books, reviews, or my blog, please visit my website, www.DarianWilk.weebly.com.

And now for my review:

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimers: I received a copy of this book from the author as part of the blog tour in exchange for my honest opinion. 

My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: Darian's writing style is always poignant and always genuine. Her characters are always compelling and the plot line is always well-crafted.

I am always wowed by the way Darian's book make me feel. Her books always leave me feeling deeply connected. Claire has just lost her job and then the day ends with her husband telling her that he wants a divorce because there's another women in the picture. Talk about a terrible day.

Claire is unable to move on. Everybody tells her that Charlie wasn't worth it and that she's better off without him. They don't understand that she still loves him. They convince her to start dating. She reluctantly agrees and goes on dates that are in short disastrous and miserable.

However, then an old friend enters her life and she thinks she might just have found love. But then Charlie decides he wants her back. How can you choose between the man you loved and were married to and the man you are falling in love with.

The writing style as I mentioned was genuine, addicting, and thoroughly enjoyable. The characters rang true and offered a multi-faceted cast. From her younger sister who is loose in her affection, to her older sister who is happily married and presents the love that she wishes she had, to the unique array of characters that she dates.

The book offered a quick and entertaining read. Women's fiction at its best.  

In Summary: Darian Wilk has the ability to write poignantly about the complexities of relationships and the beautiful healing power of love. 

The Wrap-up: Darian Wilk is becoming an author that I adore. I will definitely be keeping tabs on her novels. Both Reinventing Claire and Love Unfinished are definitely two books that I recommend to fans of this genre. 

Love, 

Danica Page

Book Review: The Goddess Legacy by Aimee Carter

The Goddess Legacy

(Goddess Test, #2.5)

by Aimee Carter

Young Adult Fantasy/Paranormal/Mythology

Received for Review

Release Date: July 31,2012

Average Goodreads Rating:4.22

Pages: 395

Before I get into my review, here's the summary from Goodreads:

For millennia we've caught only glimpses of the lives and loves of the gods and goddesses on Olympus. Now Aimée Carter pulls back the curtain on how they became the powerful, petty, loving and dangerous immortals that Kate Winters knows.

Calliope/Hera represented constancy and yet had a husband who never matched her faithfulness….

Ava/Aphrodite was the goddess of love and yet commitment was a totally different deal….

Persephone was urged to marry one man, yet longed for another….

James/Hermes loved to make trouble for others#151;but never knew true loss before….

Henry/Hades's solitary existence had grown too wearisome to continue. But meeting Kate Winters gave him a new hope….

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimers: I received an e-galley of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: Wow! I wish I had read this before I read Goddess Test. I enjoyed Goddess Test and Goddess Interrupted, but I hated that I didn't know so much about what had happened to the other characters.

I felt like Persephone might have been a flat character in Goddess Interrupted and I was dying to know more about James and Henry. This novel was everything I wanted it to be. I loved getting the back story.

Suddenly Hera became understandable...even somebody you could pity.

Persephone became dynamic. She came to live. 

James and Henry became even more compelling. 

Basically, this story opened up the story for me and made me excited to read the third one. Yes, the second one ended on a cliff-hanger and so naturally I have to read the third one. But this novel made me more excited to read the third one.

I wish that more of this would have been included in her mainstream story, but I understand why it wasn't. 

The writing read similarly to her main stories. I think fans of the series will love this addition. To those who were disappointed with the series, this novel might help you view the series in a slightly better light.

The pacing was slow in some areas, but on the whole I really enjoyed it.  Each time I finished one of the five novellas, I was positive that I couldn't like the next one as much as the one I had just read.

And each time, I was thrilled to discover that the new story had sucked me in. The stories are compelling, dramatic, and thoroughly enlightening.

In Summary: Carter's addition to her series made me appreciate the series more than I had before. Each one of the stories was compelling and left me captivated. 

The Wrap-up: I gave this a four because like I mentioned the stories sometimes dragged on and there were some other minor things that bugged me.

Also, I hate that this book was necessary in order for me to like Goddess Inheritance. But this addition was compelling and I'm glad I got to read it. 

Love,

Danica Page

Book Review: What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor

What I Didn't Say

by Keary Taylor

Young Adult Realistic Contemporary

Received for Review

Release Date: April 30,2012

Average Goodreads Rating:4.04

ebook

Before I get into my review, here's the synopsis from Goodreads:

Getting drunk homecoming night your senior year is never a good idea, but Jake Hayes never expected it all to end with a car crash and a t-post embedded in his throat. 

His biggest regret about it all? What he never said to Samantha Shay. He's been in love with her for years and never had the guts to tell her. Now it's too late. Because after that night, Jake will never be able to talk again.

When Jake returns to his small island home, population 5,000, he'll have to learn how to deal with being mute. He also finds that his family isn't limited to his six brothers and sisters, that sometimes an entire island is watching out for you. And when he gets the chance to spend more time with Samantha, she'll help him learn that not being able to talk isn’t the worst thing that could ever happen to you. Maybe, if she'll let him, Jake will finally tell her what he didn't say before, even if he can't actually say it.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Disclaimers: I received an e-galley of this book via Netgalley in exchange for sharing my honest opinions about what I read.

My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I read this book awhile ago and am really late in writing this review but I remember this book because it stuck out to me.

I went in with pretty low expectations. I expected the novel to be enjoyable, a quick read, but one that wouldn't be very memorable. I was definitely mistaken. As I mentioned, this book stuck out in my mind. Even though it's been a month since I read it, I feel like this book is very much in my mind.

Let's start out with the characters Jake and Samantha.I didn't expect to like Jake. He is a guy who gets in a car crash while driving drunk...not exactly something that makes me like a guy. But Jake really was a great guy. As he struggled to deal with the knowledge that he won't ever be able to talk again, my heart broke for him. I felt myself watching as he grew up throughout the course of the novel. He was a character I loved reading about.

Then there was Samantha. I just loved her character. Like Jake, she was going through so much. I loved watching her deal with her own problems. I won't be more specific because I don't want to give the plot away. But her story really was heartbreaking.

Most of all I loved watching Jake and Samantha interact with each other. I loved watching Sam and Jake become better when they were with each other.

Above all, I loved that his was told from Jake's perspective. So often, I read from girl's point of views so I loved getting inside Jake's head. I enjoyed Keary's writing style, but it was the character and the plot that stuck with me.

If you like to read coming of age stories set in the ya genre where characters have to overcome huge trials, then this is the book for you.

In Summary: Keary's novel was one that touched me and left an impact. It's one I won't ever forget reading. Beautiful characters combined with an intense plot line make this a must-read.

Warnings/Side-notes: Drug and alcohol references. A lot of sexual tension, but overall this novel is very clean. I really appreciated that. Language is also clean.

The Wrap-up: A novel that exceeded my expectations. I loved reading this one. It is definitely one I recommend. 

Love,

Danica Page