Review: Fable by Adrienne Young

As the daughter of the most powerful trader in the Narrows, the sea is the only home seventeen-year-old Fable has ever known. It’s been four years since the night she watched her mother drown during an unforgiving storm. The next day her father abandoned her on a legendary island filled with thieves and little food. To survive she must keep to herself, learn to trust no one and rely on the unique skills her mother taught her. The only thing that keeps her going is the goal of getting off the island, finding her father and demanding her rightful place beside him and his crew. To do so Fable enlists the help of a young trader named West to get her off the island and across the Narrows to her father.

But her father’s rivalries and the dangers of his trading enterprise have only multiplied since she last saw him and Fable soon finds that West isn't who he seems. Together, they will have to survive more than the treacherous storms that haunt the Narrows if they're going to stay alive.

My Thoughts:
It's been a while since I've read a book in 24 hrs.  I got hooked from the description!  Fable is a SURVIVOR with a capital S!  Using her wits and sheer will she overcomes so much to get what she wants.  Despite it being hard to accept I understand why Saint did what he did.  I was fascinated with her ability to free dive.  The amazing things she must see as explored the coral reefs. By the end, I felt like Fable had come to terms with it as well.  The story is very well written with great characters to support Fable on her journey.  I knew as I got closer to the end that I'd be left biting my nails for the next book! I look forward to finding out more about Isolde and where the story will lead for all the crew of the Marigold. I highly recommend this story for lovers of sea adventures.  
Mild to moderate violence and adult situations.
Recommended for ages 15 and up.

Review: Call it What You Want by Brigid Kemmerer

When his dad is caught embezzling funds from half the town, Rob goes from popular lacrosse player to social pariah. Even worse, his father’s failed suicide attempt leaves Rob and his mother responsible for his care.

Everyone thinks of Maegan as a typical overachiever, but she has a secret of her own after the pressure got to her last year. And when her sister comes home from college pregnant, keeping it from her parents might be more than she can handle.

When Rob and Maegan are paired together for a calculus project, they’re both reluctant to let anyone through the walls they’ve built. But when Maegan learns of Rob’s plan to fix the damage caused by his father, it could ruin more than their fragile new friendship...

This captivating, heartfelt novel asks the question: Is it okay to do something wrong for the right reasons?

My Thoughts:  

Brigid Kemmerer has been one of my favorite authors for many years.  Starting with her Elemental series she has yet to disappoint.  This book was no exception.  Her characters are always so well written and complex.  Rob and Meagan were just as pragmatic.  Both Rob and Meagan were shouldering the burden of not only their own secrets, but those of their loved ones too,  While Meagan was judged by a single bad choice, Rob was judged by a choice someone close to him made and never given the benefit of the doubt.  The best part about this book was that as the story progressed both characters still made good and bad choices; showing that all choices and their consequences can shape us and help us evolve.    The book illustrates that not everything is always "black & white" and what may be wrong in one person's eyes, may not be in another's.  As with all of Kemmerer's books, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a great, contemporary YA read.  
Recommended for 15 & up
Mild to adult situations

Review: Only a Breath Apart by Katie McGarry

Jesse Lachlin is cursed. 

So the town folklore says, but while Jesse’s had his fair share of tragedy, the only curse he believes is in his grandmother’s will: in order to inherit his family farm he must win the approval of his childhood best friend, the girl he froze out his freshman year, Scarlett Copeland.

Scarlett Copeland is psychic.

Glory Gardner tells Scarlett she has hidden psychic abilities, but Scarlett thinks Glory is delusional. What is real is Scarlett’s father’s irrational fears, controlling attitude, and the dark secrets at home. Scarlett may have a way to escape, but there’s a hitch: she’ll have to rely on the one person she used to trust, the same boy who broke her heart, Jesse Lachlin.

Each midnight meeting pushes Jesse and Scarlett to confront their secrets and their feelings for each other. But as love blooms, the curse rears its ugly head…

My Thoughts:  Every book I've ever read by Katie McGarry has been breathtaking!  So this book was adequately titled.  

Both Jesse and Scarlett are harboring some big demons.  Things that keep them isolated and from developing real connections with others.  That's when the universe or divine intervention decides it's time their paths cross and things change.  

I have always loved how Katie writes about such serious subjects with gentleness and validity.  It's so easy to relate to her characters.  The complexity of each character gives them such depth and pragmatism.  Jesse has lost the two people he loves most; one by choice and one by death.  Now he has to decide if  he's inherited his family's curse or if he can break the cycle and become more than the Lachlin name.  Scarlett has seen her hero fall from grace.  Her father, the one man who controls her universe is now the one man she doesn't trust.  

I loved how Jesse and Scarlett put aside damaged feelings to help each other.  

Readers who are familiar with McGarry's books will not be disappointed!  If you haven't read any of her books add them to your TBR list right away!  

Suitable for readers 15 & up.  Mild to moderate violence and adult situations.

Review: Regen by Cassie Greuman

Life is finally shaping up for Trisha. For the first time, she’s with a foster family she doesn’t hate. Her new school is decent, and she even has a boyfriend. Until the night she finds herself waking up in the woods covered in blood, a bullet hole in her dress. 

Without her fae abilities, she’d be dead, but now the Faerie Council has given her an ultimatum. She has to help find an escaped fugitive, or be taken to Faerie, a place her missing mother told her horror stories about. 

Now, Trish has to keep her day job a secret from her foster parents, join forces with the ex-boyfriend who killed her, and hunt down a dangerous criminal before he comes into his powers. Should be a piece of cake.

My Thoughts:  I love books about the Fey.  This one has its own unique take story line.  There were a few things that happened in the story that happened in the story that seemed to be there just move the story along.  They didn´t really fit well.  Trisha was a complex character.  Sometimes she was hard to figure out.  I really look forward to learning more about her and her parentage.  She evolved from a self-centered teenager to one who looked after others and cared about her family.   I hope we get to learn more about Wade and if he´s really a good guy or a jerk.  Trisha discovers that there are people who care about her and will support her unconditionally.  I hope I won´t have to wait too long for the next book to see what happens.  
If you like to read books about the Fey, I think you´ll enjoy this one very much.

Recommended for readers 14 & up.  Mild language and violence.

Review: Furyborn by Claire Legrand

When assassins ambush her best friend, the crown prince, Rielle Dardenne risks everything to save him, exposing her ability to perform all seven kinds of elemental magic. The only people who should possess this extraordinary power are a pair of prophesied queens: a queen of light and salvation and a queen of blood and destruction. To prove she is the Sun Queen, Rielle must endure seven trials to test her magic. If she fails, she will be executed...unless the trials kill her first.

A thousand years later, the legend of Queen Rielle is a mere fairy tale to bounty hunter Eliana Ferracora. When the Undying Empire conquered her kingdom, she embraced violence to keep her family alive. Now, she believes herself untouchable--until her mother vanishes without a trace, along with countless other women in their city. To find her, Eliana joins a rebel captain on a dangerous mission and discovers that the evil at the heart of the empire is more terrible than she ever imagined.

As Rielle and Eliana fight in a cosmic war that spans millennia, their stories intersect, and the shocking connections between them ultimately determine the fate of their world--and of each other.

My Thoughts:
The only thing that made this book hard to get through was the going back and forth between POVs. I liked how the story was presented but sometimes the supporting characters or villains would get confusing at times as I read through alternating POVs. The story is original and I liked the imagery very much. The characters were very well written with Rielle being the exact opposite of Eliana in so many ways. Despite knowing Rielle's fate I couldn't help but wonder how she got there. Eliana's part of the story was my favorite. She was selfless and selfish all in one complex character and I can't wait to see how her story ends. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a new series with a unique story and a fast pace. 
Recommended for readers 16 & up.
Mild to moderate adult content and language.

Review: More Than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer

*While this book exists in the same universe as Letters to the Lost, it is a standalone title.*

Rev Fletcher is battling the demons of his past. But with loving adoptive parents by his side, he’s managed to keep them at bay...until he gets a letter from his abusive father and the trauma of his childhood comes hurtling back.

Emma Blue spends her time perfecting the computer game she built from scratch, rather than facing her parents’ crumbling marriage. She can solve any problem with the right code, but when an online troll’s harassment escalates, she’s truly afraid.

When Rev and Emma meet, they both long to lift the burden of their secrets and bond instantly over their shared turmoil. But when their situations turn dangerous, their trust in each other will be tested in ways they never expected. This must-read story will once again have readers falling for Brigid Kemmerer’s emotional storytelling.

My Thoughts:

I read Letter to the Lost and LOVED it. I loved the way it approached parent/child relationships.  This book does much the same but with different characters.  Rev is Declan's best friend so we got to know him a little in Letters to the Lost.  More Than We Can Tell is his story along with Emma's.  Both characters are dealing with some really heavy issues in their lives.  At first they confide in just each other.  But they soon discover that their actions don't just affect them.  I enjoyed learning more about Rev's background and watching him face down his demons.  It was so touching as Rev figured out how truly loved and supported he was.  It hit me hard in the "feels".  Emma is still figuring out who her "people" are.  I think she definitely put her faith in the wrong ones and it took her a while to see who was really there for her.  Both characters were pragmatic and complex.  I felt that Emma's story was left a little open ended, but nothing that really bothered me.  I kind of wanted to find out what would finally happen with her and her mom.  The best part was not only getting to see Rev close a huge and painful chapter in his life, but getting to Declan doing the same.  While you don't have to read Letters to the Lost to enjoy this book, I highly recommend reading them both.  I hope if this series continues we get to see how Matthew turns out.

Recommended for 15 and up.  

Mild to moderate language and violent issues.

I received this book from NetGalley in return for my honest review.

I'm Baaaaaaack!!

Hello my friends and followers!
I'm sorry it's been a few months since I've posted.  I have no other excuse other than life just got me all kinds of busy.  That doesn't mean I haven't been busy reading.  I have sooooo many reviews to post.  I hope that'll you'll be patient with me while I get back into the swing of blogging.  If you're still getting my emails and blog posts thank you so much for sticking with me!  My goal as always will be to give you honest reviews for books that I've read.  If I can help you find your next favorite read or help you avoid one you will regret reading then I'll have done what I set out to do over 5 years ago.  I've been thinking of updating the look of my blog.  It's had because I am a little attached to the design.  However, I know change can be a good thing.  So, that being said, if you'd like to see me change the look or design I'd love you to comment on this post and let me know.  Give me some suggestions and if you know someone who does blog design send me their way.  I'm to all suggestions and ideas! 

Thanks again for your love and patience!  Hope to hear from you.
Jeannette