Review THE NATURALS by JENNIFER LYNN BARNES @jenlynnbarnes @DisneyHyperion

Book Description

Publication Date: November 5, 2013

Seventeen-year-old Cassie is a natural at reading people. Piecing together the tiniest details, she can tell you who you are and what you want. But, it's not a skill that she's ever taken seriously. That is, until the FBI come knocking: they've begun a classified program that uses exceptional teenagers to crack infamous cold cases, and they need Cassie. What Cassie doesn't realize is that there's more at risk than a few unsolved homicides—especially when she's sent to live with a group of teens whose gifts are as unusual as her own. Soon, it becomes clear that no one in the Naturals program is what they seem. And when a new killer strikes, danger looms close. Caught in a lethal game of cat and mouse with a killer, the Naturals are going to have to use all of their gifts just to survive. Think The Mentalist meets Pretty Little Liars—Jennifer Lynn-Barnes' The Naturals is a gripping psychological thriller with killer appeal, a to-die-for romance, and the bones of a gritty and compelling new series.

About the Author
Jennifer Lynn Barnes has written several acclaimed young adult novels. She has advanced degrees in psychology, psychiatry, and cognitive science. She received her PhD from Yale University this year and is now a professor in psychology. You can find her online at www.jenniferlynnbarnes.com or follow her on Twitter @jenlynnbarnes.

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER - NetGalley

MY THOUGHTS - LOVED IT

Cassie is whisked away to be part of a special school that trains teens to be detectives and solve crimes that are normally unsolvable.  She has special skills that allow her to read people and put little details together to form a bigger picture that can pinpoint the criminal.  There are other teens in this small group of "Naturals" that have skills ranging from those who can visualize a crime to those who can "see" what the criminals are thinking.  There seems to be a paranormal element to these teens, but it is only regarded as a gift.  These kids are extremely intelligent and are somewhat ostracized or in trouble because of their gift.

Cassie also is a special case since she now lives with her grandparents after her mother is brutally murdered.  You can quickly see where this is going since she will soon be researching the crime surrounding her mother's death that has been a cold case for years.  When she is recruited by Tanner, an agent who turns out to be around her age, she finds herself finally able to use her ability to find out exactly what happened to her mother.  I tried to guess who the killer would be, but I was wrong at every turn.

The minor characters are really memorable and I can see spin offs to follow them.  Lia, a clothes horse and human lie detector, was one that really stood out.  Michael, a stats expert, has a really sweet side, but all of these characters are damaged and that makes them even more interesting.  Any one who enjoys a good psychological thriller and mystery will love the start of this new series.  Parents:  There is some language, violence and kissing.  

Giveaway Review Interview CONJURED by SARAH BETH DURST @sarahbethdurst @bwkids

Book Description

Publication Date: September 3, 2013

Eve has a new home, a new face, and a new name—but no memories of her past. She’s been told that she's in a witness protection program. That she escaped a dangerous magic-wielding serial killer who still hunts her. The only thing she knows for sure is that there is something horrifying in her memories the people hiding her want to access—and there is nothing they won’t say—or do—to her to get her to remember.

At night she dreams of a tattered carnival tent and buttons being sewn into her skin. But during the day, she shelves books at the local library, trying to not let anyone know that she can do things—things like change the color of her eyes or walk through walls. When she does use her strange powers, she blacks out and is drawn into terrifying visions, returning to find that days or weeks have passed—and she’s lost all short-term memories. Eve must find out who and what she really is before the killer finds her—but the truth may be more dangerous than anyone could have ever imagined.

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER / NETGALLEY

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

Eve doesn't remember anything about her past life except little blips of information and the surgeries to change her appearance.  Now in a witness protection program, she is told she must remember her past so others won't die.  She first realizes that there is a problem with her past when strange things start to occur.  Her Aunt Nicki is really an agent assigned to protect her and Nicki's partner, Malcolm, tries to make her life as normal as possible.  Whatever normal is for her since she has discovered that she can do things like make the birds on the wallpaper in her room fly around.  Malcolm does try to help her become more "normal" by getting her a job at a library where she meets Zach.   Zach and Eve make an instant connection and while touching Zach, Eve can use her magic without the side effect of blacking out and losing newly gained memories.  When she does blackout, she has horrible  visions of her past that fill her with fear.

Malcolm and Nicki's boss, Lou, wants to press her to regain her memory quicker, so he introduces her to other teens like her.  They can all use magic without losing consciousness and even though they befriend her, she senses something just isn't right. One of the boys, Aidan, tries to romantically entangle her and pull her away from Zach.   As Eve starts to connect more with her memories, the more she begins to fear what she has witnessed.  She begins to fear the other teens, the agents of the WitSec program and even herself.  Forced to face her fears, she discovers that she is from another world and in order to save others from harm, she must go back to where she came from.

This story really captured my attention since it seemed to mix the best of the Twilight Zone with Men in Black in more of a horror-thriller type tale.  The passages where Eve has her visions are the stuff of your worst nightmares.  As Eve starts to remember her past, the horrors just keep on coming.  Even nice, normal Zach has some horror in his past bringing to light some domestic abuse in his own family.  The love story around this pair is one for the ages.  The last third of the book had me guessing and I never imagined the ending.  Parents:  some language, some magical kissing and a bit of violent imagery.

About the Author
SARAH BETH DURST is the author of the young adult novels Vessel, Drink Slay Love, Enchanted Ivy, and Ice, as well as the middle grade novels Into the Wild and Out of the Wild. She has been a finalist for SFWA's Andre Norton Award three times, for Vessel, Ice, and Into the Wild. Sarah lives with her husband and children in Stony Brook, New York. Visit her at SarahBethDurst.com.

WEBSITE * TWITTER * FACEBOOK  * GOODREADS

PLEASE WELCOME SARAH BETH TO BOOKHOUNDS

1.    Do you have a secret talent?

I can summon dolphins with the power of my voice. Okay, that's not true. The dolphins flock to me of their own volition. No, seriously, I don't have a secret talent. I wish I did. But the fact is that I don't even know how to whistle.

2. Is there a song that really reminds you of your book?

"Little Talks" by Of Monsters and Men. I have no clue what the song is about, and the lyrics have nothing to do with CONJURED. But the manic feel to the song, the hint of longing, the carnival-like instruments... it reminds me of Eve's life.

3. What was the easiest thing about writing this book?

The visions. In CONJURED, Eve has no memories but lots of bizarre powers. Every time she uses her power, she blacks out and experiences terrifying visions. The visions were so much fun to write. Definitely some of the creepiest sentences ever to crawl out of my fingertips.

4. Is there a word you love to use? 

I love the word "azure. " I don't get much chance to use it because, really, how many times can you say, "The sky looks azure tonight, " before you start to sound pretentious? (I can tell you: zero.)

5. Any real or imaginary pets? 

One real: my evil cat, Perni. She hates everyone except me (on occasion and only if I do NOT try to pet her belly). I once tried to have an imaginary pet griffin, but Perni ate him.

Thanks so much for interviewing me!

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BLOG TOUR & REVIEW: Unbreak My Heart by Melissa C. Walker @bwkids @melissacwalker

Book Description

Publication Date: May 22, 2012

Sophomore year broke Clementine Williams’ heart. She fell for her best friend’s boyfriend and long story short: he’s excused, but Clem is vilified and she heads into summer with zero social life. Enter her parents’ plan to spend the summer on their sailboat. Normally the idea of being stuck on a tiny boat with her parents and little sister would make Clem break out in hives, but floating away sounds pretty good right now. Then she meets James at one of their first stops along the river. He and his dad are sailing for the summer and he’s just the distraction Clem needs. Can he break down Clem’s walls and heal her broken heart? Told in alternating chapters that chronicle the year that broke Clem’s heart and the summer that healed it, Unbreak My Heart is a wonderful dual love story that fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Susane Colasanti will flock to.

About the Author

MELISSA WALKER has worked as ELLEgirl Features Editor and Seventeen Prom Editor. She is the author of Small Town Sinners, the Violet on the Runway series, and Lovestruck Summer. Melissa manages the daily e-newsletter, iheartdaily.com and handles blogging for readergirlz.com.www.melissacwalker.com

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER - NETGALLEY

MY THOUGHTS

LOVED IT

Clementine  has had the worst year ever!  After falling for the same new guy at school that her BFF, Amanda, has claimed for her own, she is ostracized by all of her friends after the two go on a joy ride and don't return for over eight hours.  Suspicions are cast and even though nothing happened, Clem may as well be wearing a scarlet letter for the rest of her life. When her parents decide to spend the summer sailing down the Mississippi, she is almost relieved to be away and cut off from the drama of home life.   Her story is told in flashbacks of the events that lead to her fall out with Amanda.  Feeling sorry for herself, she thinks she is the worst person on earth and that she will never have another romance ever.  Then she meets a boy, James,  that is sailing the same route as her parents.  James has his own sad tale but tries not to let on to anyone  how much he is suffering.  As they meet in ports along the way, the two develop a friendship and Clem becomes less depressed as the trip and relationship progresses while they find renewal and joy in each other. 

SIGH!  What a wonderful slice of teen life that even us adults can relate to and enjoy!  I found myself getting a bit teary while reading about Clem's misunderstanding with Amanda.  Even though they knew each other for years, Amanda takes the side of the guy which I think hurts her even more than the abandonment of their friendship.  No matter how many times Clem tries to explain, she is shut down, although by the end of the book, she has resolved to stick up for herself and let it go.  This story is not something I would normally read, but I am really trying to get out of my comfort zone and I am so glad that I did!  For those of us who have lived through any sort boy drama with your girlfriends, this will ring true.  There is also a bit of comedic relief with Clem's younger sister, Olive, who seems wiser than her years and knows that her big sister is suffering.  Even the parents in the story are believable, something that is missing in a lot of young adult books these days. This is a pretty clean read with just a kiss here and there, maybe one or two bad words and overall a wonderful story I will enjoy recommending. It should really appeal to women of all ages and especially those fans of Sarah Dessen and Jennifer Echols.  

Details Reading level: Ages 12 and up Hardcover: 240 pages Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens; 1 edition (May 22, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 1599905280 ISBN-13: 978-1599905280

REVIEW: My Misadventures of a Teenage Rock Star by Joyce Raskin

Description

Rock ’n’ roll isn’t just about sex and drugs. It’s about self-expression, lasting friendships, and self-empowerment. That’s what Alex learns after she starts playing bass for a rock band in this almost true story. Joyce Raskin, author and musician, culls from her memories to create this funny, touching, and honest look at what it’s like to be a teenager, a girl, and a rock star all at the same time.

Also included are a note from the author, instructions on how to play basic guitar chords, advice on songwriting, and more!

Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Graphia (June 13, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0547393113
• ISBN-13: 978-0547393117

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER / NETGALLEY

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

This book is such a strong, positive story for younger teens.  My niece (15 and a reluctant reader) read a few chapters of it and declared it "real, this is how real kids my age talk".  She really wanted a copy of her own. Alex is truly the perfect character to portray the hopes and dreams of young teens everywhere.  She is smart, funny and doubts herself all at the same time.

When Alex decides to take up the bass to be in a rock band, she learns that she has to keep her nails short, deal with groupies, hours of practice and being true to herself.  The book has adorable drawings and at the end, the author has a chapter on how to start your own rock band while staying true to yourself.  Raskin also points out the issues of alcohol and drug abuse in such a way to give kids the strength to say no.

I received this book from the publisher at no expense for my honest review.  This book doesn't come out until June, but I feel it is such an important book for teen girls, the word need to be spread now!