Review: Vengeance - Megan Miranda

Vengeance by Megan Miranda, published by Bloomsbury on 13th February 2014

Goodreads synopsis:
When Decker drags his best friend Delaney’s lifeless body out of the frozen lake, he makes a deal: Anyone but her. Everyone but her. The lake releases her. It takes another...

All their friends blame Delaney for Carson’s death. But Decker knows the truth: Delaney is drawn to those who are dying, and she would have tried to help Carson.

Or so Decker believes until a body lies in front of him in a pool of water on his kitchen floor. Until he sees in Delaney’s eyes that she knew this would happen too – and she said nothing. Until he realises it isn’t the lake that is looking for revenge – Delaney is part of someone else’s plan.

Review:
This is the sequel to 'Fracture' which is one of my favourite books.  I thought it was amazing the first, second and third time I read it!  'Vengeance' was therefore one of my most anticipated books of the year and hit the top of my TBR pile immediately.  I love the new look covers for the series which look so pretty on my shelves.

The story is told from Decker's point of view.  A part of me missed seeing events unfold from Delaney's perspective as I love her character but it didn't take me long to adjust to the change of narrative.  It was interesting to hear first-hand how Decker was dealing with everything that had happened between the two of them in the previous story. 

Decker, Delaney and their circle of friends believe that they've been cursed by Falcon Lake after Delaney was pulled from the water.  Does the lake have the power to destroy them or are they looking in the wrong place for answers?

A really shocking and unexpected event occurs at the start of the book which I thought was a bold and brave choice by Megan Miranda.  It sets in motion a chain of events which unfold between Decker and Delaney and threatens their future together.  The ramifications of this are felt throughout the whole story as we see Decker struggling with feelings of grief, anger and sadness.  He's emotionally traumatised and pushes away those closest to him.  I missed the closeness between him and Delaney and spent much of the time wishing that he would just forgive her. 

I enjoyed the creepy atmosphere which hangs over all the characters and leaves the reader in the dark and frantically guessing about what is truly going on.  Megan Miranda teases things out and lets the tension build wonderfully. 

'Vengeance' is the perfect winter read and cements Miranda's place as one of my favourite authors.  She can do no wrong! 

Review: Junk Miles - Liz Reinhardt

Junk Miles by Liz Reinhardt, published by Randomhouse Children's Books on 2nd January 2014

Goodreads synopsis:
Brenna Blixen has the perfect boyfriend. He's sweet, sexy, loyal, and sure that Brenna is the best thing that's ever happened to him. But being the perfect girlfriend isn't as easy as Brenna thought it would be, and the pressure that comes with trying to be Jake's everything is beginning to weigh on her. When her mother surprises her with a trip to Paris over winter break, she's torn. She anticipated spending her vacation snuggling with Jake Kelly, ice-skating, drinking cocoa, and relaxing...but what girl in her right mind would turn down a trip to Paris?

Things only get more confusing when she winds up unexpectedly and unavoidably thrown into Saxon Maclean's arms in the City of Lights. Far away from the comfort and stability she finds at Jake's side, Brenna faces down the feelings that have been swirling through her since the day she laid eyes on Saxon. Is it fair for her to call herself Jake's girlfriend when she has so many unresolved feelings about someone else?

Brenna is determined to figure it all out, even if it means making some of the hardest decisions of her entire life. She also learns that every single thing she does has rippling repercussions, some that fill her with total regret. By the time she figures out what her heart truly wants, she realizes that she may not be able to have it after all.

Review:
'Junk Miles' is the second book about Brenna Blixen, following her as she goes on an adventure in Paris and gets her heart torn in two different directions by handsome boyfriend Jake Kelly and his irresistible brother Saxon. 

I really like the character of Brenna.  She's open to experiencing new things and she always seems to live life to the full.  Although she loves Jake, she continually feels like he puts her on a pedestal and his idolisation of her makes her feel suffocated at times.  On the other hand, she's wildly attracted to bad boy Saxon and when she discovers that he's on the same trip to Paris as her, she can't seem to stay away from him.  Personally, I love Jake Kelly and at times I couldn't understand why she would even look at another guy but there were some definite sparks between her and Saxon which she wanted to face up to and I did admire her bravery in daring to take a risk. 

I had mixed feelings about Saxon.  I found his manner quite obnoxious and not very charming at all but I think underneath his tough exterior, there's a softer side to him waiting to come out.  He's obviously had a difficult home life, which hasn't been helped by the deterioration of his friendship with Jake.  I ended up hoping that things would turn around for him in the future.       

This was a brilliant contemporary romance which I really loved.  I devoured the book in one sitting and then immediately picked up the next in the series 'Slow Twitch'.  Liz Reinhardt is my new favourite author and I definitely need to get my hands on all of her other books now, especially if they're as good as this one! 

Review: Flame - Amy Kathleen Ryan

Flame by Amy Kathleen Ryan, published by Macmillan Children's Books on 7th January 2014

Goodreads synopsis:
Waverly and the other members of the Empyrean have been scattered, and their home ship destroyed. The mission to rescue their parents didn't go quite as planned, and now they're at an even greater disadvantage: trapped with their enemies on the New Horizon, trying to find a way to survive. Will Seth's health hold out long enough to help Waverly topple their enemy? And will Waverly find a way to unite her friends before the final battle? Nothing is certain and every second is a risk in this explosive finale.

Review:
'Flame' is the concluding part of Amy Kathleen Ryan's Sky Chasers series.  It's also one of the best sci-fi books set in space that I've ever read.  Every detail is brilliantly depicted and the very real human struggle for survival makes for compulsively addictive reading. 

Waverly and the other residents of the Empyrean are now facing life on-board the New Horizon spaceship and are struggling to adjust to being under the rule of the manipulative Anne Mathers.  Waverly, along with Kieran, are both being used as pawns by those that want to rule the ship and find themselves caught in the middle of a dangerous power struggle.  Each chapter is alternatively told from their point of view, along with Seth, who we last saw isolated and alone on the Empyrean.  Sick and in terrible trouble, Seth becomes a hunted fugitive as he seeks to stay alive.  Each character is well and truly tested to the limit in this final instalment, as life and death truly are both on the line.

Amy Kathleen Ryan doesn't take her foot off the peddle once as the action hurtles along at full speed.  I was totally absorbed and immersed in the world she's created and sad to reach the final page of what has been a rollercoaster adventure.  The whole trilogy has been full of excitement, explosive action and unexpected twists and turns with brilliant characters who have been faced with a series of impossible decisions to make.        

This book is a wonderful end to the series and I would never have guessed when reading the first book 'Glow' how everything was going to eventually work out.  Nothing was as I expected.  Tense and nerve-wracking, 'Flame' did justice to a tremendous story arc which never once failed to deliver.       

Review: Defy the Stars - Sophie McKenzie

Defy the Stars by Sophie McKenzie, published by Simon and Schuster on 2nd January 2014

Goodreads synopsis:
After months apart, everyone thinks that River is successfully building a future without Flynn. Indeed, she has almost convinced herself that she is moving on. And then, one day, Flynn is back, bringing with him tales of his glamorous new life. River suspects his lucrative new work involves some form of criminal activity, but will she let herself be drawn back into Flynn's world? Or is this, finally, the end of the line for them both?

Review:
'Defy the Stars' the final instalment in the series about River and Flynn will, I feel, divide opinion among readers who have invested a lot in these two characters and their love story.  Having followed them and rooted for them all the way, Sophie McKenzie finally wraps up their epic romance but not necessarily in the way which will please everyone.  Flynn appears back in River's life after she's finally begun to get her life in order again but the crux of the book is whether or not they can ever get their happily ever after.   

Personally I was disappointed with the outcome of the story, as I had very different feelings about how I wanted things to be left.  However, although it may not have been the ending I would have wished for, I still think it was brilliantly written and extremely intense and moving.  I was totally gripped as events unfolded. 

This is quite a different book in the series, veering on the side of being a thriller which I thought made it even more exciting.  I read it in one sitting as I'm sure a lot of other readers will.  Flynn and River have both grown-up a lot and matured while they've been apart.  Flynn still seems to make some stupid choices at times but I could see that he had River's best intentions at heart which definitely endeared him to me.  Especially after losing faith with him in the previous book.     

'Defy the Stars' concludes a heart-breaking and emotional series of books about first love from one of my favourite British authors.  If you've yet to discover this series then I would recommend getting your hands on book one, 'Falling Fast' which introduces the young lovers for the first time.  

Review: Roomies - Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando

Roomies by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando, published by Hodder on 2nd January 2014

Goodreads synopsis:
When East Coast native Elizabeth receives her freshman-year roommate assignment, she shoots off an e-mail to coordinate the basics: television, microwave, mini-fridge. That first note to San Franciscan Lauren sparks a series of e-mails that alters the landscape of each girl's summer -- and raises questions about how two girls who are so different will ever share a dorm room.

As the countdown to college begins, life at home becomes increasingly complex. With family relationships and childhood friendships strained by change, it suddenly seems that the only people Elizabeth and Lauren can rely on are the complicated new boys in their lives . . . and each other. Even though they've never met.

Review:
I really, really enjoyed this book.  Far more than I originally thought I might.  It is in fact my first five star read of the year.  I can't wait to go back and pick it up again for another re-read.  'Roomies' is co-authored by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando.  I've not read anything by either author before, although I will now be looking out for titles by them in the future.

The narrative is split in the book between Lauren and Elizabeth or EB as she's called, who are set to be college roommates.  There's a mix of first person narrative, as well as a series of emails between the two girls as they get to know one another before they officially meet in person and become fellow students.  Normally I'm not a huge fan of books which use emails as a communication device between characters.  However, it worked perfectly here and I really liked the flow of dialogue between the girls as they begin to open up and share their secrets and fears with each other. 

My favourite character in the book was Lauren and I loved her wonderful, crazy, big family of eight.  There were aspects of her character which I could personally identify with and I just enjoyed so much reading about her and her younger siblings and the amazing bond they have.  She and Elizabeth come from extremely different backgrounds and have contrasting home lives but often seem to envy what the other has.  I will admit that I actually had a little cry near the end when Lauren has to leave her family behind. 

'Roomies' is about moving onto that next big step, about becoming independent and progressing from childhood to adulthood.  It's also about leaving people, places and things behind and embracing the new.  These are all themes which I'm sure will resonate with young readers, as they will be facing many of these things themselves.  The story is a truthful and honest account of taking that step into the unknown and learning to embrace change as something positive, even when it can feel scary and frightening.  A brilliant read, I absolutely loved it!

Review: Darkest Fear - Cate Tiernan

Darkest Fear by Cate Tiernan, published by Hodder on 9th January 2014

Goodreads synopsis:
Since she discovered the truth when she turned 13, Vivi Neves has rejected everything her parents hold dear - their heritage, culture, traditions, and especially their dark family secret. They are haguari - cat people, shapeshifters who turn into jaguars, as their ancestors have done for thousands of years.

Then, tragically, her parents are killed. Vivi can cling to her own beliefs and live her life the way she wants - or she can embrace her heritage and avenge her parents' deaths.

With danger closing in on her, her decision is forced... and she's pulled deeper into a mystery that gets darker and more dangerous. Finally, she must face her heritage... or die.

Review:
'Darkest Fear' is the first title in a brand new trilogy by author Cate Tiernan.  Having thoroughly enjoyed her Immortal Beloved series, I was psyched to hear that she had a new book out and couldn't wait to pick it up.  The story actually reminded me of Christine Feehan's Leopard People books (which I love) but for teens.

The majority of the action is set in New Orleans and features main character Vivi Neves, who is haguari.  She has the ability to shapeshift into a jaguar but is reluctant to embrace her family's heritage.  After a terrible event involving her parents, Vivi goes to live with her cousin Mateo and his girlfriend Aly and sets about trying to rebuild her life.    

The dramatic opening to the book immediately grabbed me and I flew through the next few chapters.  I was utterly engrossed as Vivi's whole world changes and she faces up a new future.  I loved the communal feel of Vivi's new home with her cousin and his housemates.  They may not all be related by blood but they share a common bond and they definitely feel like family.  There's no doubt that they have each others backs. 

Vivi's burgeoning romance with good-looking Rafael was another of my favourite things about the story and I can't wait to see how this progresses throughout the rest of the series.  There are definite sparks between the two of them and I would love to see more of their romance!

The only bit I wasn't too sure about were the scenes in the book when Vivi is in her jaguar form.  There's obviously and understandably no proper dialogue and instead her thoughts are conveyed as a stream of consciousness.  This took quite a bit of getting used to and I must admit I did prefer it when she was in her human form. 

Paranormal romance fans will love this opening instalment to the series which I heartily recommend.  'Darkest Night' the next book in the series will be published in September 2014.