Review: Tempest by Julie Cross

Tempest

(Tempest # 1)

By: Julie Cross

Pub. Date: January 17, 2012

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Pages: 352

The year is 2009.  Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler.  Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

I wanted to love this book so much. It sounds amazingly awesome. Time Travel and male POV! I'm sold. Unfortunately, I didn't like is as much as I wanted too. That isn't to say it is not a great book. I know others are falling in love with Tempest. It just wasn't my cup of tea, but I still would read the next book in the series.

Jackson Meyer is 19. He goes to college, volunteers at a camp and has a girlfriend. He is very much like other guys his age, except he can time travel. What made his time traveling unique was he can't change the future. What ever he does in the past changes nothing in the time space continuum. I thought this aspect was very interesting.

I really loved Jackson! He was so much fun and I loved reading his POV. When his girlfriend is shot in 2009, he gets scared and time travels back to 2007, and he can't go back home. He is able to time travel to other parts of his life, but he can't go back to 2009. Now he has to find out not only how to get home, but he has to stop the murder of his girlfriend as well.

We learn so many different things throughout the story. We learn who Jackson really is and we learn things about his family. Tempest had amazing buildup to this information, which I really enjoyed.

What I didn't like was the ending. It is one of those endings that you want to scream at the author and say "NOOOO, why??????" and then the author laughs and says "what, you don't like cliffhangers"! The book was also a little slow for me. I feel the first half just completely dragged on. The second half was much better!

Tempest reminded me a little of "The Butterfly Effect" movie because of the idea that you have to go to the beginning to change the future.

As I said, I think Tempest is still a great book and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I even downloaded, Tomorrow is Today, a free prequel to Tempest that I am looking forward to reading!

This review was brought to you by Hallow Tours!

You can also listen to Tempest! You can get the audio book from Macmillan Audio. Listen to a sample here!

Review: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Hallowed

(Unearthly # 2)

By: Cynthia Hand

Pub. Date: January 17, 2012

Publisher: Harper Teen

Pages: 416

For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning. 

I loved Unearthly. I thought it was so good. What I loved most about it was that the main character already knew she was part angel. I didn't think this series could get any better, but it did! Hallowed was filled with so many unexpected moments and I loved every single minute of it!

At the end of Unearthly, Clara finds out that Christian is also part angel and since she didn't save Christian in the forest fire, she didn't fulfill her purpose. She decided to save Tucker, but now she is afraid that Tucker is going to die, since he didn't die in the fire. While dealing with that fact, Clara is learning a lot more about who she really is, and meeting many other half angels who live right in her town!

Man did I feel for Clara. She was dealing with a lot. She hasn't been getting along with her younger brother Jeffrey, she is trying to keep her feelings for Christian away since she loves her boyfriend, she is trying to figure out if there is more to her purpose, AND if that wasn't enough, there are other things happening in her life that are very hard to deal with.

There are so many different emotions going around in Hallowed. Every single character is so well written that we really get a sense of the struggles that each one of them are facing.

There were so many questions left unanswered in Unearthly, and while Hallowed answers many of them, it leaves a whole new set of questions that now need answering. One thing I couldn't stand in Unearthly was how little Maggie (Clara and Jeffrey's mom) would tell them about being part angel. I was glad that she finally told them a lot of what they and I have been wondering.

As for the love triangle, I know some people are strictly Team Tucker or Team Christian, but I really can't decide. I love them both, and they are both so important to Clara. She needs both of them in her life.

Cynthia Hand is such a talented author. This is easily becoming one of my favorite series and I can't wait to have a finish copy on my bookshelf!  

This review was brought to you by Hallow Tours!   

In My Mailbox (33)

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme created by The Story Siren to share with everyone the books they bought, borrowed, or received for review.

I haven't done an IMM since December 17, 2011 so this post will consist of three weeks worth of books! 

~ Bought~

Bloodrose - Andrea Cremer

Cracked -  K.W. Walton

Emma - Jane Austin

Bittersweet - Sarah Ockler

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight - Jennifer E. Smith

Why We Broke Up - Daniel Handler 

These are the books that I bought on my nook. Each of them were under three bucks!

Entwined - Heather Dixon

Hereafter- Tara Hudson

Tangled - Carolyn Mackler

Raised by Wolves - Jennifer Lynn Barnes 

~ Review~

Crazy - Amy Reed

Severed - Megg Jensen

The Priest and the Peaches - Larry Petterson

Pieces of Us- Margie Gelbwasser

The Rebel Wife - Taylor M. Politers

~Won~

 I won Touch by Jus Accardo and some bookmarks from the lovely Mundie Moms!  

~Free on my Nook~

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side - Beth Fantaskey 

What did you get in you mailbox's this week? Leave me your link in the comment section so I can check it out! 

Follow Friday # 18

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel of Parajunkee and Alison of Alison Can Read! It's a great way to meet new blogger friends!

This weeks question is:  

Go count the number of unread books sitting on your shelf. How many?

So I don't have as many as I originally thought. Including what is on my bookshelf and on my nook....I have 66 books that I need to read. I thought that number would be a lot higher!!





How many books do you have to read? Leave me your link in the comment section so I can check it out!

Review: Jenny Pox by J.L. Bryan

Jenny Pox

(The Paranormals # 1)

By: J.L. Bryan

Pub. Date: July 24, 2009

Publisher: Self-Pub

Source: The very awesome and nice J.L. Bryan

Jenny is a shy, small-town South Carolina girl whose touch spreads a deadly supernatural plague. She can't touch anyone for long without killing them. Her life is painfully lonely until she meets a boy named Seth with the opposite power, a healing touch. Jenny's love for Seth brings the wrath of Seth's beautiful, popular and devious girlfriend, Ashleigh, who secretly wields the most dangerous power of all--the power to inspire love.

Wow! Who would have thought this little book (well actually, it's not that little) could inspire so much emotion. I felt sadness for Jenny, hope for Seth and Jenny and a complete and utter hatred for Ashleigh. What we have here is a completely original story that will keep you interested throughout the entire book!

Jenny has a power. If she touches anyone for too long (and by too long, I mean a few seconds) she will kill them. This leaves her completely alone. I was already crying by page 8, when Jenny was four and crying and her daddy had to put on his "cuddle mask" to hold and comfort her. What a horrible thing, to never know human touch. Jenny completely broke my heart, but despite this, and the torture she gets from her fellow classmates she was so good. She had the biggest heart.

When her three legged dogs gets hit by a hit and run driver, the most popular boy in school pulls over and not only heals a completely dying dog, but also grows back the dog's leg! Jenny soon learns that Seth's has the power to heal and not only that but can touch Jenny without dying! What stands in the way of these two love birds is Seth's completely psycho girlfriend. I didn't realize how crazy this chick actually was until I read some of the horrible things she's done. What makes Ashleigh even more terrifying is that her touch has the power to make anyone fall for her, thus getting them to do whatever she wants.

Jenny Pox ends with a bang, and I mean a bang! I would have never seen that ending coming even if it hit me in the head! I can not wait to read the second book in the series, Tommy Nightmare. I just know it is going to be as fascinating as Jenny Pox and I am excited to learn more about Jenny, Seth and Ashleigh pasts.  

Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Under the Never Sky

By: Veronica Rossi

Pub. Date: February 7, 2012

Publisher: Harper

Source: Netgalley

Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction.

As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions.

They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers abarbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY

The first book in a captivating trilogy, Veronica Rossi’s enthralling debut sweeps you into an unforgettable adventure. 

First off, how awesome sounding is this title. It's one of those titles that will grab you and get you to read the synopsis, which is exactly what happened to me. After reading the summary, I was even more sure that I wanted to read the book.

The book started off very confusing for me. It took me about 100 pages to understand what was even going on. Once I caught on, the book flew by for me. It was interesting and original and I can't wait to read the second book.

I think my favorite part of the book was the characters, especially Aria and Perry. What I loved most about them was that they didn't have the insta-love connection. They actually hated each other. Aria thought Perry was a disgusting cannibal and Perry couldn't stand the way Aria smelled. Watching their love unfold was very realistic and I enjoyed every aspect of it.  Perry was a very interesting character and I kept wanting to know more and more about him.

Even the secondary characters brought a lot to the story too! I enjoyed them all.

Under the Never Sky also has a bit of mystery that I was never able to figure out. I never knew what was going to happen. Each page brought something new to the story and I was completely fascinated.

Under the Never Sky comes highly recommended! You won't be disappointed!

My only issue is the cover. I don't like it at all. The UK cover is perfect though! I think it captures so much about what the book is about, and I really like how Aria and Perry are portrayed on it.

Here is the UK cover-Which one do you like best?  

Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder

(Lunar Chronicles # 1)

By: Marissa Meyer

Pub. Date: January 3, 2012

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Pages: 387

Source: Netgalley

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

In this thrilling debut young adult novel, the first of a quartet, Marissa Meyer introduces readers to an unforgettable heroine and a masterfully crafted new world that’s enthralling.

Cinder wasn't really on my radar, but it kept popping up on a lot of my favorite blogs, so I decided to finally check it out. I must say that I was not at all disappointed. I thought it was a very original take on a classic fairytale. I would have to say that Cinder is part dystopian and part science fiction, and even though I am not the hugest fan of these genres, I really enjoyed Cinder. Actually, I loved it!

The first few pages started off slow for me, but then after chapter 1, the rest just flew by. I thought the pacing was excellent. Nothing dragged on. There wasn't too much of anything. Everything was just right.

The main character is Cinder, half her body is made up of metal parts so she is considered a cyborg, but she is still a normal girl. Her stepmother and stepsister were very mean to her, never making her feel like part of the family. Despite this, she was still strong and confident. One day, Prince Kai goes to her table at the market and asks her to fix his robot. Right then and there, the two of them feel something for each other, but Cinder backs off knowing there will never be a future with him.

I really liked Prince Kai. Despite being a Prince he was not at all arrogant. He seemed very real to me. I felt for Kai and the many decisions he had to make regarding his future and the future of his people, and I never knew what he was going to choose. I liked Cinder and Kai together. I thought that they were adorable.

I also enjoyed the mystery aspect of the book. Even though I was able to guess who Cinder really was pretty early on in the story, I still thought it was well written and there were still many surprises throughout the story.

Overall, Cinder was an amazing story, and I am looking forward to the second book in the series!