Review: Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Opal (Lux #3)
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Release date: December 1, 2012
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Source: Personal Copy
Reviewed by: Nahomi
Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / AudioBooks

My rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
No one is like Daemon Black

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn't fooling around. Doubting him isn't something I'll do again, and now that we've made it through the rough patches, well... There's a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can't protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I'm no longer the same Katy. I'm different... And I'm not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I'm capable. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won't turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we are stronger...and they know it.

      It's no secret that I'm a fan of the Lux series, but I was trying to wait to read Opal because I was warned that it had a big cliffhanger at the end and Origin wasn't out yet. That worked out for all of two days before I gave in and read it. During the entire novel I was a big ball of nerves. I didn't know what to expect which made me even more nervous to begin with. There's a lot of new information to deal with in Opal and Katy and Daemon seem to be in a no win situation. It's harder to differentiate the truth from the lies and who are allies or enemies.

I feel that Opal has a slower pace than Obsidian and Onyx. There is a lot of information thrown at the reader and most of the book is preparing for this big event, so the real action doesn't really start until the latter part of the book. But once the action starts it feels like it's a sprint until the end which leaves you heartbroken and in shock.

Daemon and Katy still have this funny sarcastic dialogue that kept me laughing throughout the book, and Daemon keeps on melting my heart. *sighs* Again, Jennifer L. Armentrout does a wonderful job of pulling me into the story and giving me all of the feels. Although Opal isn't my favorite book of the series, I really enjoyed reading it. Let me just say that the end left me hyperventilating and needing Origin stat. 

Book Blitz - Break You by Jennifer Snyder

Break You by Jennifer Snyder

Release Date: November 8, 2013

Genre: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Blitz organized by: Xpresso Book Tours

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

Synopsis:

Blaire Hayes enjoys a quiet life, spending her days as a CNA at the local nursing home and nights studying for exams. She prefers things to be as uncomplicated as possible - but when her friends drag her to a party and she bumps into her high school crush, the path of Blaire's life veers in an entirely different direction than what she had planned for herself.

Jason Bryant created a nice life away from his hometown, putting distance between himself and the suffocating sadness of his father's death. But when he finds out his grandfather's health is deteriorating, he decides he must return home. Partying was not on his agenda while in town, nut it's how he bumps into Blaire Hayes - the girl he'd always thought of in high school as an unobtainable pass.

Together the two learn there are moments in life that hold within them all the power to break you...

(New Adult: Contains sexual situations, language, mature themes, and alcohol usage.)

Excerpt

The water was cool. I’d kicked off my sandals long before we made it to the river’s edge and now stood with my toes planted firmly in place as the river’s constant movement slipped over my skin. The moon was low in the sky, nearly full and shedding just the right amount of light down on us. I took a step back, onto a smooth rocky ledge behind me, as the chill of the water soon became too much. The rock beneath my bare feet was still warm from the sun and I let out a little sigh into the night. I tipped my head back to look up at the star-filled sky, taking in all of nature’s uncorrupted beauty that surrounded me.
Jason came up behind me, his sandals shuffling against the smooth surface of the rock. “It’s nice, isn’t it?”  he asked, his voice nothing but a whisper.
Glancing over my shoulder at him, I was surprised by how close he was to me. Inhaling, I could smell his guy-scent—a mixture of soap and deodorant of some sort. Whatever it was, it was spicy and male and I liked it. My eyes traveled the length of him and I knew he could feel them on him, but I was too tipsy to care, so I continued checking him out unabashedly while his gaze locked on the sky.
“Look,” he said as he pointed. “Bats.”
My head snapped to where he’d pointed so quickly, the movement jerked my body with it and I stumbled. Losing my footing, I nearly toppled into the river. Jason reached out and steadied me, his large hands gripping my forearms.
“Whoa there,” he chuckled.
His face was inches from mine. His warm hands still gripped my arms. I straightened my stance to a firmer one, but he still didn’t let go. Our stare became fused together as electricity zapped beneath my skin from the contact I’d been craving all night.
“Thanks for catching me.” A giggle built in my chest, but the second I saw his tongue slip out and lick at his bottom lip, it disappeared.
“No problem.”
His hands slid free from my arms only to grip my hips firmly. My heart pounded from their sudden shift in placement. Jason’s jaw moved as he bit at the inside of his cheek. I wondered for a moment if this was a nervous habit of his or if he was simply wondering whether now was the time to take me home.
I didn’t want him to take me home. I wasn’t finished with this night—with him—just yet.
With the courage that came from drinking three Long Island Iced Teas and the yearning that pulsated through my body from his nearness, I did what I wanted—I arched my body into his and kissed him. His lips were warm and soft; his breath tasted of spicy liquor, and I knew I was right where I’d wanted to be a million times in my head—locked in Jason Bryant’s arms with my lips pressed to his.

About the author:

Jennifer Snyder lives in North Carolina were she spends most of her time writing new adult and young adult fiction, reading, and struggling to stay on top of housework. She is a tea lover with an obsession for Post-it notes and smooth writing pens. Jennifer lives with her husband and two children, who endure listening to songs that spur inspiration on repeat and tolerate her love for all paranormal, teenage-targeted TV shows.

Find out more about her latest novel by visiting her blog: http://jennifersnydersblog.blogspot.com

Author Links: Email / Facebook / Twitter

Quotes (#34)

Brb, crying all the tears.

Back from YALLFest and boy am I exhausted. I feel like I could sleep for days but what an experience it was, meeting all the authors. Let's see how I make it through today.

"Stare, pry, listen, eavesdrop. Die knowing something. You are not here long." - Walker Evans

"I read so I can live more than one life in more than one place." - Anne Tyler

"I have consistently loved books that I've read when I've been sick in bed." - Tracy Chevalier

"I think literature is best when it's voicing what we would prefer not to talk about." - Rick Moody

"I like you. I. Like. You. I'll admit you're annoying. Sometimes you agitate me to the brink of insanity, but you can throw it back at me like no one else. When you laugh, I want to laugh. When you smile, I want to smile. Hell, I want to be the one to make you smile."- Katie McGarry, Dare You To

"Have you ever asked yourself, do monsters make war, or does war make monsters?" - Laini Taylor, Daughter of Smoke & Bone

"There's something nice about the silence of a car ride in the dark, going home. When you were tired of the radio and conversation, and it was okay to just be alone with your thoughts and the road ahead. If you're that comfortable with someone, you don't have to talk." - Sarah Dessen, What Happened to Goodbye

Have a wonderful week, Swooners!

Cover Reveal - Playing Pretend by Juliana Haygert

Playing Pretend by Juliana Haygert

Release date: March 2014
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Cover: Berto Designs

Summary from Goodreads:

As the Governor’s daughter, Charlotte McClain is an expert in playing pretend. High society, the men her mother shoves in her direction and a Pre-Law major are all a part of her perfect pretense. But when she pretends to be a nobody during Spring Break, she meets someone who rocks her world.

Mason Rowell knows heartbreak and Spring Break don’t mesh well, so he allows the mysterious Charlotte to seduce him. What should have been a fling, results in something deeper. After Spring Break has long since passed, he moves to Washington to pursue his graduate degree, but what he never expected to find living among the rich and pompous, was the girl who gave him the strength to change and the desire to start anew.

When the guy Charlotte can’t forget goes from a sensual memory to temptation in the flesh, her facade is put to the test. If she surrenders to his charms, she risks ruining her mother’s perfect career and master plan. Playing pretend is what Charlotte does best, but how long can she pretend she doesn't love the man who made her proud of her true self?

**A light, sexy NA Contemporary Romance**

About the Author:

New Adult author and contributor at NA Alley blog.

While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.

Author Links:

    

Cover Reveal Organized by:

Review: No Safety in Numbers by Dayna Lorentz

No Safety in Numbers (No Safety in Numbers #1) 
By: Dayna Lorentz
Release Date: May 29, 2012
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Source: Library
Reviewed by: Jenn
Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads / IndieBound

My Rating: 1.5 stars out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
Life As We Knew It meets Lord of the Flies in a mall that looks just like yours.
A biological bomb has just been discovered in the air ducts of a busy surbanban mall. At first nobody knows if it's even life threatening, but then the entire complex is quarantined, people start getting sick, supplies start running low, and there's no way out. Among the hundreds of trapped shoppers are four teens.
These four different narrators, each with their own stories, must cope in unique, surprising styles, changing in ways they wouldn't have predicted, trying to find solace, safety, and escape at a time when the adults are behaving badly.
This is a gripping look at people and how they can - and must - change under the most dire of circumstances.
And not always for the better.

I had really high expectations for this book. The whole premise of a bomb in a mall with unsuspecting people, it just something that could happen in real life and I love to read these kinds of books. The mixture of the fictional with reality that freaks me out and it cause me to get sucked into the story line. However, this was not the case with No Safety in Numbers.

My first complaint was the multiple POVs. I understand that the author was trying to portray different views and show how they all tied together. However, I feel like I had to play the guessing game at the beginning of each chapter to remember which character was which and what was their story.

The next issue is the characters themselves. Maybe it because I'm in my mid-twenties  and the characters are all teenagers and teenagers are typically self-absorbed but I found them all to being really selfish and didn't want to pay attention to authority. Unlike what the synopsis said, the adults weren't behaving badly. They just didn't know what exactly happened and how to deal with the consequences as well they didn't want pandemonium on their hands if they blurt out everything that was happening without no answers. Which is exactly what happened whenever a teen somehow told a secret they overheard or were entrusted with. Each character had their own hidden agenda and weren't looking out for what was best as a whole.

Overall, the book had potential but it just wasn't executed well enough. I am curious to see what happens next but I may just go online and search for spoilers than waste any more time on these teens.

Waiting on Wednesday (#33)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Morning swooners!

This week pre-publication "can't wait to read" selection is:

Brooke (Under the Never Sky #2.5) by Veronica Rossi

Expected Release Date: November 26, 2013

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads 

Synopsis: 

The only fight she can't win is the one for Perry's heart. Following the stunning climax in Through the Ever Night, the Tides have been forced to seek shelter from the Aether storms in a dismal, secluded cave. But Brooke's memories of the cave go back much further, to when she and Perry used to come here together. That was before Perry fell in love with Aria and before Vale's dealing with the Dwellers altered the course of the Tides forever.

Now, with her sister back from a haunting year in captivity and Aria lying unconscious in the sick bay, Brooke struggles to put the pieces of her life back together. Without Perry, who is she? And what is her role in this frightening new world? As these questions swirl about her, an old threat to the Tides resurfaces, and Brooke is forced to put the lives of her people before her own. But in taking this step outside of herself, Brooke  may finally discover what she truly wants.

Blog Tour Stop: Review: Attempting Elizabeth by Jessica Grey

Attempting Elizabeth by Jessica Grey 

Release Date: January 24, 2013
Publisher: Tall House Books
Source: Gifted for Blog Tour
Reviewed by: Nahomi
Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

*I received a copy of this book for part of blog tour but it did not influence this review in any way.*

My rating: 3 stars out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
Kelsey Edmundson is a geek and proud of it. She makes no secret of her love for TV, movies, and, most especially, books. After a bad breakup, she retreats into her favorite novel, Pride and Prejudice, wishing she had some of the wit and spirit of Elizabeth Bennett.

One night at a party Kelsey meets handsome Australian bartender Mark Barnes. From then on, she always seems to run into him when she least expects it. No matter how Kelsey tries, she always seems to say the wrong thing.

After a particularly gaffe-filled evening around Mark, Kelsey is in desperate need of inspiration from Jane Austen. She falls asleep reading Darcy's letter to Lizzy and awaken to find herself in an unfamiliar place that looks and sounds suspiciously like her favorite book. Has she somehow been transported into Pride and Prejudice, or is it just a dream?

As Kelsey tries to discover what's happening to her, she must also discover her own heart. Is Mark Barnes destined to be her Mr. Darcy? In the end, she must decide whether attempting to become Elizabeth is worth the risk or if being Kelsey Edmundson is enough.

      I am a really big Pride and Prejudice fan, so when Jenn gave me the opportunity to read Attempting Elizabeth, I was excited! I had really high hopes, but as I read this story I found myself wanting to throttle the protagonist, Kelsey. Sometimes, I wanted to shake her really hard so that I could knock some sense into her. There were several times I found myself cringing at what she was about to do or at something she said.

The premise was interesting, although there were certain scenes that could have been shortened. I feel like there were certain sections which slowed down the pacing of the story. As I mentioned before, the protagonist was frustrating, and her internal dialogue was very annoying. The love interest on the other hand was absolutely swoony. Mark isn’t the typical tall dark and handsome guy. He’s around 5’11 with curly red hair and has an Australian accent. *fans self* He is a complete sweetheart and made the book more enjoyable for me.

The story was good but it could have benefited from an epilogue. I would've liked to know what happened to Kelsey and Mark after the book ended. If you are a hopeless romantic who's a fan of Pride and Prejudice this is an interesting twist on the story.

You can follow the rest of the tour by clicking here.

About the author:

Jessica Grey is an author, fairytale believer, baseball lover, and recovering Star Wars fangirl. A life-long Californian, she now lives in Montana with her husband and two children where she spends her time writing, perfecting the fine art of preschooler-wrangling, and drinking way too much caffeine.

Author Links: Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Blog Tour hosted by: 

Book Blitz - Unintentional Virgin by A.J. Bennett

Unintentional Virgin by A.J. Bennett

Release Date: September 19, 2013

Genre: Contemporary, New Adult

Blitz organized by: Xpresso Book Tours

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

Synopsis:

Karma Points is cursed. Cursed with stupid name and inability to lose her virginity. She's on a mission to lose her virginity before she turns twenty if it's the last thing she does. 

One night, her good friend Eva brings her to an underground club where Karma meets a tattooed bouncer. He's far from the clean-cut type she normally falls for, which makes her think this finally might be the night she crosses the threshold of womanhood.

Excited, she goes home with the bouncer named Jax and as always, her dreams crash down once again. Jax cannot believe she is willing to give away her virginity to a stranger she met at a club. As the only son with five sisters and a widowed mom, he can't morally go through with it, even her's never been more tempted in his life.

Unwilling to let her walk away he strikes a deal. Karma has to spend three weeks dating him and then decide if she wants to have sex or walk away.

Excerpt

Why was he stopping? Her stomach clenched. She tried to still her frantically beating heart. Her mind screamed, don’t stop. Please don’t stop. She needed this experience. She wanted it with every ounce of her being. 

“Don’t stop.” She hated the pleading she heard in her own voice. 

“Karma,” he said as he closed his eyes and leaned back on his knees. “Tell me you didn’t go to a club to pick up a guy for your first time? What the hell…” He ran his hands over his face. 

Karma was shocked by his reaction. “You sound like my father.” 

Jax pulled away as if he’d been bitten by a snake. The look on his face was of total disbelief. Gone was the look of lust in his eyes. No. No. No. They were so close. Why did she have to say anything? She hadn’t meant to, it just came out like word vomit. 

“You’re really a virgin?” He ran his hand through his inky black hair. 

“Yes! I’m a virgin. Everyone has to lose it at some point.” 

“My mother would kill me if I took a girl’s virginity on a one-night stand.”

“Why are we talking about our parents right now? We were about to have sex.”

About the author:

A.J. Bennett lives in Nashville, TN with her husband and bulldog. She's addicted to coffee, popcorn and books. Becoming an author has been a lifelong dream, and she's extremely excited about her debut novel NOW OR NEVER.

Author Links: Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Quotes #33

Morning swooners,
I'm never ready for Mondays... I hope your week starts out better than mine.

"When two souls fall in love, there is nothing else but the yearning to be close to the other. The presence that is felt through a hand held, a voice heard, or a smile seen." - Lang Leav, Souls

"I had feared that love would make me vulnerable. Instead I felt empowered." - Amy Plum, Die for Me

"I fell in love with him. But I don't just stay with him by default as if there's no one else available to me. I stay with him because I choose to, every day that I wake up, every day that we fight or lie to each other or disappoint each other. I choose him over and over again, and he chooses me." -  Veronica Roth, Allegiant

"When I say 'I love you' I don't mean that I love what being with you does for my career, or I love how often your willing to shag. I mean I love you. I love making you laugh, and seeing how you react to things, and getting to know the little things about you..." - Christina Lauren, Beautiful Stranger 

"Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success." - Dale Carnegie

"I want to be the friend you fall hopelessly in love with. The one you take into your arms and into your bed and into the private world you keep trapped in your head. I want to be that kind of friend..." - Tahereh Mafi, Unravel Me 

"What we have, that's divine. It's beautiful and good and right.I feel it... I feel it all the time. You're in here, part of me. You're what I go to bed thinking about and what I wake up to in the morning." - Cynthia Hand, Boundless

"I've always found that the most beautiful people, truly beautiful inside and out, are the ones who are quietly unaware of their effect." -  Jennifer L. Armentrout, Obsidian

"Our purpose on this earth is not one single event, an accomplishment we can check off a list. There is no test. No passing or failing. There's only us, each moment shaping who we are, into what we will become." - Cynthia Hand, Hallowed 

"Whatever happens, remember that I will love you forever," he says. "Even if my spirit is dispersed and my consciousness released to the universe... whatever is left of me will never stop loving you." - Amy Plum, If I Should Die

Guess I'm feeling lovey dovey today, hope Monday treats you well.

Review: Olivia Twisted by Vivi Barnes

Olivia Twisted by Vivi Barnes
 Expected release date: Nov. 5, 2013
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Source: Entangled Teen via NetGalley
Reviewed by: Nahomi
Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher but it did not influence this review in any way.*

My rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
Olivia 
He tilts my chin up so my eyes meet his, his thumb brushing lightly across my lips. I close my eyes. I know Z is trouble. I know that being with him is going to get me into trouble. I don't care.

At least at this moment, I don't care.

Tossed from foster home to foster home, Olivia's seen a lot in her sixteen years. She's hardened, sure, though mostly just wants to fly under the radar until graduation. But her natural ability with computers catches the eye of Z, a mysterious guy at her new school. Soon, Z has brought Liv into his team of hacker elite-break into a few bank accounts, and voila, he drives a motorcycle. Follow his lead, and Olivia might even be able to escape from her oppressive foster parents. As Olivia and Z grow closer, though, so does the watchful eye of Bill Sykes, Z's boss. And he's got bigger plans for Liv...

Z
I can picture Liv's face: wide-eyed, trusting. Her smooth lips that taste like strawberry Fanta. 

It was just a kiss. That's all. She's just like any other girl.

Except that she's not.

Thanks to Z, Olivia's about to get twisted.

When I read the premise of this book I thought to myself "I have to read it." I was pleasantly surprised with the story and it's characters. The story had good pacing, and several plot twists that left me opened mouth and in shock. The book captured my attention and kept me turning pages from beginning to end.

Our main characters Liv (Olivia) and Z aren't your typical teenagers, they are orphans who have been through many tough situations in the foster system. Liv is a sweet hard working girl who just wants to get to graduation so she can escape the foster care system. She is very strong and has a good moral compass, even though she gets herself into some sticky situations. Z, on the other hand is trouble; he is attractive, smart and a bad boy. There is something about Z that keeps me from swooning over him, though. He comes off as aloof but underneath it all he really cares. I really liked that in the end both characters did what they thought was best for them although that didn't always equal being together romantically.

I loved that the book had an epilogue and I also liked how the author ended the story. The only reason I could not give this book a higher rating is because I didn't feel the characters were memorable. I didn't have that connection with them, the kind that gives me a book hangover for several days. Other than that I really enjoyed reading this story and think the author did a great job.