Review: With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent

Title: With All My Soul
Author: Rachel Vincent
Release Date: March, 26, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 377
Source: Bought ebook from Amazon.com



Synopsis:
What does it mean when your school is voted the most dangerous in America? It's time to kick some hellion butt...

After not really surviving her junior year (does "undead" count as survival?), Kaylee Cavanaugh has vowed to take back her school from the hellions causing all the trouble. She's going to find a way to turn the incarnations of Avarice, Envy and Vanity against one another in order to protect her friends and finish this war, once and forever.

But then she meets Wrath and understands that she's closer to the edge than she's ever been. And when one more person close to her is taken, Kaylee realizes she can't save everyone she loves without risking everything she has....

My Thoughts:

With All My Soul starts off 2 weeks after the events of Before I Wake; the gang is at Emma’s (body) funeral and still reeling from everything that happened. Avari lets it be known that he would do anything to get Kaylee’s soul, ANYTHING.

The world of the soul screamers series is unique and I absolutely love it. I love how there is a whole world within the normal human world portraying bean sidhes, reapers and demons. I really enjoyed the whole series. In my opinion, the story got better and better in each novel.

I have been waiting for With All My Soul for awhile to be released. I was so excited but when reading it, I found that there was something missing from this book; something that the other books had and was lacking a little. I found it to be a little irritating how Avari would always be a step ahead of Kaylee and the gang. It was like they couldn’t catch a break, not even a little one and because of that, things got progressively worse.

My favourite thing about this book was the ingenious plan Kaylee came up with to save herself, and her family and friends. I had tears in my eyes when everything came together at the end because that is how GOOD the plan was. I was happy everything worked out the way it did. This was one of the best plans and the best outcome I could have hoped for. This is what made the book great.

Another great part was when Nash finds out what his brother did for him. This was another moment where I was teary eyed, seeing the brothers get along, finally. There was no anger, no sarcasm, just brothers having a heart to heart moment. I read that part over and over again because I could not get enough. I really wanted this to happen in this book and was very happy when it did.

With All My Soul is a fast paced and enchanting read that will make you want to stay up all night reading just so you know what happens next. I am really going to miss Kaylee, Tod, Nash, Sabine and their family and friends.

My Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

Raquel

xoxo

ARC Review: Unbreak Me by Lexi Ryan

Title: Unbreak Me
Author: Lexi Ryan
Release Date: May 27, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Source: Received for review from Atomr tours



Synopsis:
“If you’re broken, I’ll fix you…”

I’m only twenty-one and already damaged goods. A slut. A failure. A disappointment to my picture-perfect family as long as I can remember. I called off my wedding to William Bailey, the only man who thought I was worth fixing. A year later, he’s marrying my sister. Unless I ask him not to…

“If you shatter, I’ll find you…”

But now there’s Asher Logan, a broken man who sees the fractures in my façade and doesn’t want to fix me at all. Asher wants me to stop hiding, to stop pretending. Asher wants to break down my walls. But that means letting him see my ugly secrets and forgiving him for his.

With my past weighing down on me, do I want the man who holds me together or the man who gives me permission to break?

My Thoughts:

Maggie Thompson is broken. At the age of 15, she has been broken and uses sex to get what she wants or what she thinks guys want). Maggie is known to be the town slut because of her past indiscretions. She is known as “Lucy” because of her reputation of sleeping with anyone and everyone. Maggie goes away for a year and comes back to find her ex-love, Will, is marrying her sister. On the same day of the wedding, she meets the elusive Asher Logan and sparks begin to fly.

This was a great book to read. It kind of reminds me of a soap opera, one in particular I watch The Bold and the Beautiful. Maggie dated Will, Maggie left, Will started dating her sister, they are getting married, and Will still loves Maggie and also loves her sister. And you know what? I enjoyed every moment of the drama.

This book was told in 3 people’s point of views and it was great because you got to learn about each character: Maggie, Will and Asher. This was a different kind of love triangle. Usually I am rooting for 1 guy but I actually found myself confused on who I wanted Maggie to end up with. I really could not choose. I liked both Will and Asher.

One thing I love about this book was how Asher saw through her BS. From the time they met, Asher allowed her to be broken, to be herself and he still wanted her. He saw something more in Maggie and it helped to break down some of her concrete-thick walls. At the end of the book, I was in tears when a revelation hit about Asher. I loved how the author made me feel exactly how Maggie was feeling at that time. Another thing I loved was the road Maggie took to forgive herself and her mistakes. It takes a very strong person to be truthful after so many lies and I really commend her on that.

One of my favourite parts would have to be when Maggie finally admitted the truth to her mother about her past. Her mother accepted and supported Maggie and her decisions. That moment was very powerful and in my opinion as it helped a lot in the process of Maggie healing. It solidified that she should stop hating herself and should feel worthy to be loved by another.

Unbreak Me is a novel about forgiving and overcoming your past. It is a heartbreaking story about a young life full of mistakes and the road to redemption. I am happy I was able to read this unique story; it will stay with me for a long time.

My Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

Review: Ashes and Ice by Rochelle Maya Callen

Title: Ashes and Ice
Author: Rochelle Maya Callen
Release Date: February 4, 2013
Publisher: C&C Legacy Publishing
Pages: 294
Source: Bought from Amazon.com



Synopsis:
She is desperate to remember.
He is aching to forget.
Together, they are not broken.
But together, one may not survive.

​Jade wakes up with no memory of her past and blood on her hands.

Plagued by wicked thoughts, she searches for answers. Instead, she finds a boy who doesn't offer her answers, but hope. But sometimes, when nightmares turn into reality and death follows you everywhere, hope is not enough.

LUST. LOVE. LOSS. Sometimes, all that is left are Ashes and Ice.

My Thoughts:

When I first read the synopsis of Ashes & Ice, I was very interested and I wanted to find out more about it. Well, this book did not disappoint. I thought it was magical and enticing. The book always had me guessing until the end about what was happening to Jade and why she sometimes acted the way she did. I found it to be very different than anything else I have read before and that is what I loved about it most.

I found the beginning to be a little slow at first. In the beginning, I found I liked Connor’s point of view more. I can feel the depth of his pain and had tears in my hands because I was feeling everything he was feeling. I really liked that they were alternating chapters of Jade and Connor’s point of view. I found I got to know them both more. On the other hand, just when I was getting into, for example, Connor’s point of view the chapter would end and change to Jade’s. Due to this, I felt like some chapters were cut short and it left me a little frustrated.

I absolutely loved the writing. The author has a beautiful way of connecting words together. It is breathless. There is something so honest about it and it left me wanting more.

I liked how with Jade, because she doesn't remember anything, she has to learn small things all over again. Small things we take for granted, for example, Eskimo kisses, is something so significant to Jade and the story line. Small things or incidences make the story.

What I loved most about this story? Love is the be all and end all. Love is what saved Jade from going dark numerous times. Jade could be evil, really evil, after all she is the daughter of a devil, and love is what saved her from dooming the world. I strongly believe that love will continue to be the one thing that will keep Jade on the good side.

This book was a great start to a series and I am looking forward to reading more from the author.

My Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

Review: Grave Bound by T.R. Graves

Title: Grave Bound
Author: T.R. Graves
Release Date: March 1st, 2013
Publisher: Create Space
Pages: 348
Source: Received for review from ATOMR Tours 

Synopsis: 

Emily Riddle has lived her entire life inside a patriarchal commune led by her father. There are many rules, but the most important one, 'keep it in the commune', is the most difficult for her to follow... especially since the only people willing to champion her cause live on the outside.

When Emily learns her father has promised her to Lorenzo, a perverted man who has plans for her that extend well beyond marriage and kids, she rebels. Regardless of the consequences, she refuses to marry someone who'd rather beat her than caress her.

A day of hooky that starts out as a tiny act of defiance - sneaking out of the commune for a swim - turns into a day filled with hope. After spending time with Levi, a man camping near the lake, she finds what true romance looks like and catches a glimpse into a future that's filled with love and admiration rather than hate and submission.

That tiny peek is enough to change the course of Emily's existence and makes it nearly impossible for her to go back to the commune and pretend she'll ever be able to tolerate the life chosen for her instead of the life she longs for. One that includes Levi.

Fighting to escape the commune, its leaders, and her fiancé proves to be more dangerous than Emily expected. The secrets she knows, as the leader's daughter, will either follow her to the grave or send her - and Levi - there.

My Thoughts:

Emily lives in a Community where the men rule and women are second class creatures. The men instill fear and the possibility of being beaten in their women. In fact, the men can do anything they want. For example, a man can cheat on his wife and the wife has to ok with it but if a woman was to do it, she would be killed. The women in the commune or Community have to be submissive to their husband or father. I was drawn to this book because it sounded unique. I liked the fact that even though Emily has had years of mental abuse (that woman are nothing), she is outspoken at times and can think for herself. Emily knows her place in the Community and does not show to others that she is defiant in any way. It is not until she meets Levi, is where she realizes that woman can have a say in their lives and ultimately have hopes and dreams other than in the Community for the future. To me, this book is a coming of age story for Emily, defying conformity.

Levi is the ultimate alpha male. He is so protective of Emily when they first meet: making sure she gets home safely, giving her his cell phone so they can talk, trying to protect her from Lorenzo. I am not a fan of insta-love and this book is no exception. On the other hand, I can understand after meeting and spending time with Levi why she would fall for him so quickly. For her, he is like a breath of fresh air from the stuffy commune.

The story started a little slow but the last half of the book I thought was great. I found the storyline to be developed really well and I finished the last half of the book in one sitting. This books reminds me a little of one of my favourite shows called Game of Thrones. You never know who the main characters are so everything is a surprise with twists and turns. The same can be said about this book. What am I talking about you might ask? You will just have to read it, if you have not done so, to know what happens. I am very interested to find out what is going to happen in the second book, Underground, which comes out in October 2013. I am excited to see how everything will play out. I recommend this book for ages 18+, who is looking for an interesting and exciting read. 

My Rating:

4 out of 5 stars!