Burn Out by Kristi Helvig

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Author: Kristi Helvig
Genre: Young Adult | Sci-Fi
Series: Burn Out
Book: 1
Release Date: April 8th 2014
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Read: March 29, 2014

Synopsis
A futuristic blend of Beth Revis's Across the Universe and Lenore Appelhans's Level 2, Burn Out will satisfy the growing desire for science fiction with a thrilling story of survival, intrigue, and adventure.

Most people want to save the world; seventeen-year-old Tora Reynolds just wants to get the hell off of it. One of the last survivors in Earth's final years, Tora yearns to escape the wasteland her planet has become after the sun turns "red giant," but discovers her fellow survivors are even deadlier than the hostile environment.

Holed up in an underground shelter, Tora is alone--her brilliant scientist father murdered, her mother and sister burned to death. She dreams of living on a planet with oceans, plants, and animals. Unfortunately, the oceans dried out ages ago, the only plants are giant cacti with deadly spines, and her pet, Trigger, is a gun--one of the bio-energetic weapons her father created for the government before his conscience kicked in.

When family friend, Markus, arrives with mercenaries to take the weapons by force, Tora's fury turns to fear when government ships descend in an attempt to kill them all. She forges an unlikely alliance with Markus and his rag-tag group of raiders, including a smart but quiet soldier named James. Tora must quickly figure out who she can trust, as she must choose between saving herself by giving up the guns or honoring her father's request to save humanity from the most lethal weapons in existence.

My Thoughts
More like a 4.5 to me...

One of the most thrilling and unpredictable post-apocalyptic fictions I have ever read. Each scene was so crazy good that it was hard to put down once I started reading this astoundingly well-written book. It was full of suspense and actions I don't know where to start with. A must read for any science fiction fans out there, especially those who love post-apocalyptic fictions.

I was completely in love with the characters because they were complicated. Tora was so feisty that even she was in the toughest situation, she still didn't give in. The other characters, such as Markus, James, Britta and Kale were also such great character, even some of them were so evil I wanted to strangle them.

The plots were creative, well-written and fast-paced. I was amazed by the way the story was told which was so full of surprises and awe-inspiring scenes. The transition from one scene to the next was very nicely executed that it didn't cause me any boredom.

How the book was ending made me want to read the next installment right away. It is hard to predict what will happen next and that makes the wait even harder.

All in all, this is one great book that should not be missed by any science fiction fans or just anyone who wants to read something refreshing and filled with loads of actions and suspense. Kristi Helvig is a debut author that I will keep an eye out for. 

The Summer I Wasn't Me by Jessica Verdi

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Author: Jessica Verdi
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Release Date: April 1st 2014 
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Read: March 28, 2014

Synopsis
Lexi has a secret.

She never meant for her mom to find out. And now she's afraid that what's left of her family is going to fall apart for good.

Lexi knows she can fix everything. She can change. She can learn to like boys. New Horizons summer camp has promised to transform her
life, and there's nothing she wants more than to start over.

But sometimes love has its own path...

My Thoughts

More like a 4.5 to me...

To make her recently-widowed mother happy, Lexi agrees to take an 8-week de-gayifying program at a Christian camp. There, she, along with other campers, is "trained" suppress her SSA (Same-Sex Attraction.)

I have read several GLBT books and by far this is one of the best. I did enjoy it more than I had expected. The writing, the characters and the plots were excellent. I have always loved fast paced books and I had no complain about this book on that part.

It started out pretty simple. A little on a lighter side, if you ask me. I found myself laughing at several scenes featuring Matthew, one of the campers. Then as the story progressed, it became very emotional, and I was so furious at what they did to those kids. The most horrifying part was that it wasn't hard to believe it really did - and still does - happen in real life. Being told you are having a disease, an addiction, a demon inside just because you love someone of the same sex is brutal.

The belief that girls and boys should act certain ways was ridiculous. Not every girl likes pink, just as not all boys are sporty. At this de-gayifying camp, the campers were forced into these absurd gender roles and to deny their which irritated me way too much.

In short, this was a great read for me. I loved the characters, especially Matthew. It might not have been all rainbows and sunshine, and I really didn't mind the intense parts of this book. It was simply beautiful. 

Get Happy by Mary Amato

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Author: Mary Amato
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Release Date: October 28th 2014
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Read: March 27, 2014

Synopsis
In this poignant, realistic, contemporary YA by a state master list star, perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Gayle Forman, a young songwriter builds a substitute family with her friends in place of the broken family she grew up with.

A hip high school girl who loves music, writes songs, and is desperate for a ukelele, learns to her shock that her father did not abandon her years ago and has been trying to keep in touch. She begins to investigate him, only to discover that he has a new life with a new family, including the perfect stepdaughter, a girl who Minerva despises.

My Thoughts
 
This is a kind of books that will put a smile on your face...

First off, I was so excited to find out that the author of Guitar Notes was going to release another book. I seriously loved that book and am so glad to say that she didn't disappoint with this one either.

I loved that this book was lighthearted, yet emotional at the same time. This book was about a budding songwriter and ukelele lover, Minerva and her discovery of her father. It was a really nice story about friendship and family.

The characters were great with wonderful (& a little silly) personalities. Fin and Minerva were my favorite and I loved their sense of humor.

The plot itself wasn't the most amazing I have ever read, but the writing made it very interesting. I loved the flow and the fast pace that kept me engaged with the story.

Overall, this book was a fun and light read that suitable for people of all ages, but I think younger readers might enjoy it more.

A Husband's Regret by Natasha Anders

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Author: Natasha Anders
Genre: Adult | Contemporary
Series: Unwanted
Book: 2
Release Date: April 29th 2014
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤
Read: March 26, 2014

Synopsis
Tall and thin, twenty-eight-year-old Bronwyn Palmer has become positively gaunt, a ghost of her former self. That self was—and still is—the wife of a rich, handsome executive with an ocean-view house and his own security staff.

It was in that house, two years ago, that Bryce Palmer learned Bronwyn was pregnant with their first child. But Bryce’s rage over his impending fatherhood touched off a chain reaction of emotional and physical traumas that wounded them both. For Bronwyn, it meant fleeing the perfect marriage to start over with nothing but a precocious daughter named Kayla to care for. For Bryce, it meant a tortuous two years spent blaming his wife for deserting him, and living with the pain of not knowing his child. Now a chance encounter has brought Bronwyn back into Bryce’s life, both bearing scars...and neither knowing the whole truth of that fateful night that drove them apart.

My Thoughts
A companion book in Unwanted series, so it can be read a standalone. However, I really do recommend The Unwanted Wife to anyone who loves groveling heroes. Anyway, Theresa from the first installment appears in a few scenes, so reading book 1 might help you grasping the story even better.

First off, when it comes to groveling, begging for forgiveness, very few authors are able to pull it off and make the heroes who have once been such a complete jerks redeem themselves. And Natasha Anders is one of those few. After I finished The Unwanted Wife last week, I was completely in love with her writing and couldn't wait to read the next one. I'm glad I was given this chance to read this book before the release date. It was simply amazing.

One thing I love about this book (and book 1) was that there was no obscene language. So many other adult books, even some young adult books, it isn't a surprise to find obscenity, such as f-words. This book on the other hand, while there were some intimate scenes, obscenity was kept to the limit.

As for the story, in a nutshell it was very well-thought-out. It was heartbreaking and so romantic. Both Bryce and Bronwyn were quite a pair. The book started out with anger, misunderstanding and devastation with two people who loved each other, but couldn't find a way to work everything out. While it might not sound very original, it was an emotional ride.

If you are like me, enjoying reading second chance romance and love groveling heroes, I believe you will enjoy this book.