Review- TWO by Leigh Ann Kopans

TWO by Leigh Ann Kopans

Publication date: October 2013

From Goodreads:

Elias and Merrin are on the run.

After escaping the Biotech Hub, they thought they could breathe easy, or at least a little easier. But when bombs slam into the Social Welfare Hub only hours after their arrival, it becomes clear there's nowhere to hide - and no end to what Biotech will do to get them back. 

Their last chance for safety and answers is the Clandestine Service Hub. CS has intel on the real, broader purpose behind Fisk’s experiments , and the newfound knowledge of the horrors hidden deep within Biotech’s walls sends Merrin back to recover a secret formula that could ruin the Supers’ world forever—and might just save the lives of the Biotech victims spiraling out of control.

Elias' sisters are counted among the victims of Fisk’s experiments, and if Elias can't find and help them, their powers will destroy them--sooner rather than later. Returning to the place it all began terrifies him, but with Fisk ready to make an example out of Merrin, and his sisters’ lives --and the lives of all Supers--hanging in the balance, he might not have a choice. If he can't find the courage to face his worst fears, Elias might lose more than his newfound powers. 

He might lose everyone he loves.

My Review:
Super Heroes, Super Powers, Super Action, & Supersonic = Super Awesome!

GAH! I think that was my first word when I finished this book. Or maybe it was AHHHHH! This book was just book is just OMG amazing. The best part? We experience it all through Elias! ACK! I could seriously live in Elias’s head…all the time. Love you Elias! 

So, I had the worst time trying to write this review. I don't want to give anything away because this book is so intense you need to experience every single moment. There are so many things I want to EEEEEEEEPPPPP about! But I'm going to do my best to tell you why I loved this book without giving away any secrets. 

I’ve been waiting for this book since the moment I finished ONE. I HAD to know what happened to Elias and Merrin. Where did they go? Were they safe? What really happened to Fisk? Will Elias or Merrin ever be more than a One? So may unanswered questions. Well, let me tell you.....ALL of these questions are answered! TWO is amazing and everything I hoped it would be (and then some). When I finally finished it felt like I ate an entire tub of ice cream and chased it with a half pound bag of M&Ms. I was so worked up from all of the action and suspense it was like the biggest sugar rush ever.  If you love superheroes, you will totally fall for TWO!

Elias and Merrin lovers get ready! You will experience a whole new side of this sweet love story. Seeing things from Elias's POV is a huge treat. There were times I wanted to strangle Merrin for causing my adorable Wonder-Boy so much stress and fear. But then I remembered that Merrin is strong, fierce, and incredibly determined. She loves Elias with all of her heart, but to stay safe would not be true to who she is. Elias fell in love with the “in the action” Merrin, not a girl who stays behind and hidden in the corner. Watching Elias struggle with Merrin’s decisions is heart wrenching. But these two are meant for each other. They have to work it out….they just have too!!

The journey these two take is wild, crazy, and full of surprises. They will learn quickly they aren't safe anywhere and that the secrets at the Biotech Hub run so much deeper than they ever imagined. The action in this story is heart-pounding and the suspense will keep you on the edge of your seat.

We see some of our favorites from the first book. Leni and Daniel are back in all their glory, Elias’s wonder-twin sisters (Nora and Lia) are still trying to get a grip on all of their power, and even Merrin’s parents and brothers stop in to help. The reunions are fantastic.

We get to meet some pretty amazing new characters as well. Hayley, Click, Gallagher, and Vera are all amazing Supers with awesome powers. I won’t tell you what they can do, but Hayley is full of snarky charm, and Vera is full of geeky-goodness. I hope we see more of Click in the future, and Gallagher is a save the day kind of guy. They all add to the excitement of the story and help our fabulous duo uncover the truth behind the intentions of the Biotech Hub (which are CRAZY). I even enjoyed (and want my own personal) Kara. Seriously, where's my Kara?

Without being too spoilery, here are some of my favorite tidbits: Powers, limbs, and virginity are lost. Powers and allies are gained. Secret missions and uncontrollable powers could be deadly for some. While secret missions and new powers could turn others into really super Supers. 

I LOVED TWO! It's got it all: romance, action, suspense, mystery, secrets, and amazing super powers. What more could you want? I'm ready to throw on my cape and go supersonic! 

So in a nutshell you will spend most of the story like this:

 

Then there are the times you will do this:

You will want to see Elias like this:

And at the end you will want to do this to Leigh Ann Kopans:

My only questions is........WHEN DO WE GET MORE?????

Raised on comic books and classic novels, Leigh Ann developed an early love of science fiction and literature. As an adult, she rediscovered her love for not only reading, but also writing the types of fiction that enchanted her as a teen. Her debut novel, ONE, is about a girl with only half a superpower, the boy who makes her fly, and her struggle to make herself whole.

Leigh Ann, her husband, and four children live in Columbus, Ohio. When she’s not immersed in the world of fiction, you can find her obsessing over the latest superhero movie or using her kids as an excuse to go out for ice cream (again.)

Twitter/Website/Goodreads

Review-Life, Love & Lemons by Magan Vernon

Life, Love & Lemons by Magan Vernon
Published August 2013

From Goodreads:

When life hands you lemons, sometimes you have to say screw the lemons and bail.

Seventeen-year-old Bentley Evans had it all. Then her Dad got laid off. 

Now she has to move across town to a small apartment and leave her life of luxury for public school and a job at the local burger place. Just when her world seems like it's crumbling she finds solace in the unlikely punk boy next door, Kai Stone. But as their relationship blossoms, a jealous ex-girlfriend and a secret to tell that threatens to bring disaster back into Bentley’s life.

My Review:

"Screw the lemons" this book is totally Sweet Tea!

First off, this is the fourth Magan Vernon book I've read recently. I absolutely adore her humor, sarcasm, and wit. I fell in love with Ace and his guyliner in the My Alien Romance series (check out my review at www.mereadalot.com) and now I’m loving Kai and the lip ring in Life, Love & Lemons. I love how Magan's male characters are out-of-the-ordinary and unique. 

Meet Bentley: rich girl, total snob, little miss everyone-loves-me. Well, at least until her dad gets laid off and she moves from the burbs to the nasty 70s apartment on the wrong side of town. Leaving her ritzy private school for the gang-infested public school isn’t the only shock. She actually has to get her manicured hands dirty with a real job at a burger joint if she wants gas money or new clothes. Poor little rich girl.

Of course Bentley is tough, and full of snark. Just because she isn’t in her elitest social circle during the day doesn’t mean she’s going to slum it with punk-rock-wannabe Kai. Nope. He can take his sarcasm and lip ring and choke on them.

But there is something about Kai. Underneath the slightly arrogant wit, punk band t-shits, & skinny jeans is a pretty amazing guy. Not too mention, he’s actually kinda hot. Maybe Bentley judged him a bit too harshly. Maybe he’s just what she needs when everything else in her life is going so wrong.

I loved watching Bentley try and navigate public high school. And she thought metal detectors were only for airports. And seriously, how was she supposed to know red was a gang color? Oops. But getting your purse stolen before actually entering the building is a first for the rough school. So as much as she'd like to blend in, Bentley is the talk of the hallway.

I adored the relationship between Bentley and Kai. I love when opposites attract. I swooned for Kai, but maybe that’s because I’ve known a few Kai’s in my life. The references in the book were hilarious and brought back my own HS memories. Of course our Perkins was really a Denny’s, but the garage band music, free bowling, & wanna-be rockers are right up my alley. Kai is Mr. Straight Edge. He doesn’t drink, smoke, or do drugs. Much like most of the “Kai’s” I knew back in the day. But enough about me and my walk down memory lane.

There are some great secondary characters including Gabby (her only real friend in public school), Brett (her only real friend back at private school), Brynne and her crew of punk rock bitc**s, Kai's adorable sisters, and even the sleazy Jake (who reminded me so much of Blane from Pretty in Pink). By far my favorite secondary character was Bentley's dad. He had me rolling on the floor in laughter a few times. 

So, the rest of the story we follow Bentley and Kai’s growing relationship, and continue to watch Bentley try to adjust to her new life (which is both heart-warming and flippin’ hilarious). I love how these two characters connect and bond. Here are some of my top moments in the book:

1. Screw the lemons!
2. Perkins being the punk rock hang out
3. Sid & Nancy Drew
4. “Milk is good for your …” You’ll never guess Bentley’s dad’s philosophy on this
5. Orange hair is NOT punk rock (been there, done that)
6. Kai ruining all of his mom’s good towels
7. Prayer is good for the soul (at least w/Kai’s mom)
8. Bentley's MIA mom finally saving the day (& her hilarious method)
9. Foreskin Bandits
10. LIP RINGS!
11. Homecoming…..speaking of here is how I saw Kai at the dance:

I laughed my way through this book. The characters were fantastic and watching Bentley grow was sweet. I especially loved when she finally put her so-called “friends” in their place! You go girl! There are a few secrets revealed along the way that were unexpected. I really was surprised when the real reason behind Bentley's break-up with the icky ex Jake was revealed!

Overall I think this is another insanely fun Magan Vernon read. It’s short and sweet and you won’t want to put it down. She has definitely got a fangirl in me.

Come back on Monday for the Blitz for Life, Love & Lemons and enter to WIN an ecopy of this fun book! And remember:

Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer who lives with her family in the insurance capital of the world. She is in a very serious, fake relationship with Adam Lambert and constantly asks her husband to wear guyliner. He still refuses. She also believes her husband is secretly an alien, disguised as a southern gentleman.

Author Links:

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Dark Halo by Shannon Dittemore Blog Tour

Welcome to my stop on the Dark Halo blog tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours.  Click HERE to see the full blog tour schedule!

Dark Halo (Angel Eyes Trilogy #3)

by Shannon Dittemore

Release Date: August 20, 2013

320 pages

Summary from Goodreads :

One halo brought sight to Brielle. Another offers sweet relief from what she sees.

Brielle can’t help but see the Celestial realm. Even without the halo, it’s everywhere she looks. And with the heavens above Stratus ravaged by war, Brielle wishes for another gift, any gift. Because Jake is gone. The only boy she’s ever loved has been taken by the demon, Damien—and she knows if she ever wants to see him again, she must fight.

But fighting is so hard when everything you see makes you afraid.

When she receives instructions from the Throne Room leading her to Jake, she unknowingly walks into a diabolical and heartbreaking trap. Then the Prince of Darkness himself offers Brielle a halo of his own making. With the dark halo, she won’t have to see the fear and brokenness that surround her. She’ll be free of that unbearable burden. And it comes with a promise: the guarantee of a life with Jake.

When confusing details about Jake’s past emerge, and the battle above reaches a fever pitch, Brielle is forced to make a choice. Will she choose the dark halo and the ignorance that comes with it, or will she choose to live with her eyes wide open and trust the Creator’s design—even if it means a future without Jake?

Click cover to link to Goodreads

   

Available from:

   

My Review:

If you like Angel/Demon story lines then you will enjoy this series. While the first book, Angel Eyes, was my favorite, I thought that Dark Halo brought the series to a strong conclusion. The main theme of Dark Halo is temptation. Brielle must choose between the Canaan’s halo of light and Lucifer’s dark halo.

The choice seems easy on the surface, but the temptation to wear the dark halo is hard for Brielle to resist. It will end her Celestial visions, end her nightmares. We follow Brielle’s journey until she ultimately makes the right choice.

As with any story involving Angels and Demons, there are religious undertones of good versus evil, having faith versus being lost etc. that can be applied to any choice in life regardless of a particular view on religion. I appreciated the thoughtfulness behind the choices and outcomes represented in the story. 

My only qualm with the series was the differing points of view. Brielle’s story is told from first person, present tense and other characters are told through 3^rd person, present tense. It may work for most people, but I always got a bit distracted when I switched from Brielle to what felt more like a narrator. Shannon Dittemore has a nice descriptive prose that will engulf you into the world she created for her characters.

Overall I enjoyed the entire series. It is a fantastic story full of twists and temptations that always kept me turning the page. Dark Halo brought the series to a remarkable conclusion. I enjoyed Brielle and Jake’s journey and will miss reading about them. This is a series I would absolutely have my children read. 

Shannon Dittemore is having a Live Twitter Chat August 27^th at 6pm (Pacific) where she will be giving away a Kindle Fire HD and other prizes!  

Enter here:

http://shannondittemore.com/win-a-kindle-fire/

Shannon Dittemore is the author of the Angel Eyes Trilogy. She has an overactive imagination and a passion for truth. Her lifelong journey to combine the two is responsible for a stint at Portland Bible College, performances with local theater companies, and a focus on youth and young adult ministry. When she isn’t writing, she spends her days with her husband, Matt, imagining things unseen and chasing their two children around their home in Northern California.

ANGEL EYES was Shannon’s debut novel and the launch of a young adult supernatural trilogy. It was published in the summer of 2012 by Thomas Nelson. The sequel BROKEN WINGS hit shelves in February, 2013 and the final novel in the trilogy, DARK HALO, will be available August 20, 2013.

Author Links:

    

***GIVEAWAY***

5-sets of the Angel Eyes Trilogy including Angel Eyes, Broken Wings and Dark Halo.  US only.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Feature & Follow Friday

Check out Parajunkee & Alison Can Read for more information on this Friday blog hop and to sign up and join the fun.

This week an activity:

Book Selfie! Take a pic with your current read. 

I'm not much of a self portrait kind of girl, but here it is:

I'm currently reading Life, Love & Lemons by Magan Vernon. 

It is FANTASTIC! 

I love Magan's wit, sarcasm, and humor. I recently read her My Alien Romance series.

It was a really fun read. I reviewed book #1 How to Date an Alien over at www.mereadalot.com.

I am a part of the Book Blitz this Monday for Life, Love & Lemons, so stop back by and enter to WIN a copy for yourself!

Can't wait to see what you're reading!

As always, Happy Friday & Stay Gold!

Review-The Collector by Victoria Scott

The Collector by Victoria Scott
Entangled Teen
Publish Date April 2, 2013

From Goodreads:
He makes good girls...bad. 

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence have made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple: weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal-opportunity collector and doesn't want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within ten days.

Dante doesn't know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect, he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector…and uncover emotions deeply buried.

   

My Review:

POW! Dante will hit you straight through the heart!

Hello Dante. POW! I fell in love with this guy on page ONE with “I look like a movie star and move like an athlete,” followed by “It’s okay to be jealous, to covet me. It’s a delicious sin-tastes like chicken.” Arrogant? Check. Conceited? Check. Totally full of himself? Check. But he’s so hot!

I love Dante’s snark. He’s so inappropriate that you can’t help but laugh. He’s full of one-liners and then there are the red shoes. I LOVE the hideous RED shoes! I honestly wish I knew someone like Dante. He is the most entertaining character I’ve ever read. I hung on every word. No one makes me laugh like Dante.

So Dante collects souls for Team Hell. Or in his words he “labels those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp.” Love it. Anyway, Boss Man sends Dante on a special assignment to collect one particular soul. Enter Charlie Cooper. The line sugar and spice and everything nice was written about Charlie. She spends her days helping others and she’s kind to everyone (even those that don’t deserve it). How on earth is Dante supposed to collect such a pure soul like Charlie?

Duh, he’s going to get her to let loose and expose her wild side. A little alcohol, sex, and larceny should do the trick. Then he can POW his way through her with his red seals. Easy enough. Dante gets Charlie (and her friends Blue and Annabelle) to start having some old-fashioned teenage fun. Only the more he tries to corrupt Charlie, the more she tries to save his soul. What’s a Soul Collector to do?

Dante decides the best way to get Charlie is to play on her insecurities. Poor Charlie isn’t the prettiest thing in the world. Bad hair, bad skin, horrible glasses, and just an overall homely look, so Dante convinces Charlie to sign away her soul to be beautiful. Only Charlie thinks she’s signing her soul to heaven. Uh Oh.

So will Dante succeed in condemning Charlie to hell? Or will Charlie discover Dante’s true motives? I don’t want to spoil the outcome so you’ll have to read it yourself.

This book is like a shot of Cuervo. It’s wild, intoxicating, someone-hold-my-hair-back-while-I-vomit fun.  Dante is sexy, Charlie is sweet, and her friends Blue & Annabelle are like members of the Get-Along-Gang. There are several surprises along the way that will make you spit your drink at the person next to you or roll out of your chair in a hysterical fit. Pick this book up now since the highly anticipated second book THE LIBERATOR is out in SIX days!

Victoria Scott is a teen fiction writer represented by Sara Crowe. She's the author of THE COLLECTOR trilogy (Entangled Teen) and the FIRE & FLOOD series (Scholastic). Victoria lives in Dallas with her husband and hearts cotton candy something fierce.

Website/Twitter 

So I scoured websites looking for the perfect Dante. Seriously, hard bill to fill.
Most of my choices were too old.
 So I thought of someone who I would love to see play an arrogant, non-sweet role.
And because sweet Jeremy is growing into a FINE YOUNG MAN, 

I thought Steven R. McQueen made a pretty hot Dante!

POW!

Here's a new contender:

So, who do you see as Dante?

And yes, this blog LOVES passion so feel free to LOVE my choice or HATE it with all your heart!

Share your thoughts and I'll add the pictures and we can vote!

Remember, THE LIBERATOR comes out on AUGUST 27th!