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Thursday, February 16, 2012

Embrace by Cherie Colyer - r2r (3)

Title: Embrace
Author: Cherie Colyer
Release Date: December 20th 2011 by Omnific Publishing
Edition: Ebook

Synopsis:
How far would you go to save the people you love?

Madison is familiar enough with change, and she hates everything about it. Change took her long-term boyfriend away from her. It caused one of her friends to suddenly hate her. It’s responsible for the death of a local along with a host of other mysterious happenings. But when Madison meets a hot new guy, she thinks her luck is about to improve.

Madison is instantly drawn to the handsome and intriguing Isaac Addington. She quickly realizes he’s a guy harboring a secret, but she’s willing to risk the unknown to be with him.

Her world really spins out of control, however, when her best friend becomes delusional, seeing things that aren’t there and desperately trying to escape their evil. When the doctors can’t find the answers, Madison seeks her own.

Nothing can prepare her for what she is about to discover.
Dangerous, intoxicating, and darkly romantic, Embrace is a thriller that will leave you spellbound.

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 http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/804826-embrace-by-cherie-colyer-r2r-3-signups

Monday, February 13, 2012

Read 2 Review #2 -- River Dawn by Stephen Graff

Title: River Dawn
Author: Stephen Graff
Release Date: August 12th 2011 by Stephen Graff
Edition: Ebook

Synopsis:
Alice Page is a typical teenager, traveling down a dark, flooded river in a world that is dying. Her scientist father has been assigned by The Institute to find out if the stories are true: that a fabled flock of snow geese is still migrating up and down the Black River. While her father is obsessed with his mission, Alice is increasingly aware of the hidden dangers that surround them, and she knows that terrible things are about to happen. A ruthless preacher is searching for a mysterious boy who holds a valuable secret. But he's also looking for new congregants and has taken an interest in Alice's mother. One night, his followers steal aboard and take Mrs. Page with them. Alice wonders: why did she go without putting up a fight? Then one morning, Alice and her father rescue a teenage boy named Daniel, left for dead on a wooden barge. Now as the Pastor and his shadowy hunters close in, Alice and Daniel are falling in love. But they must keep their eyes open or they'll be taken too, into the heart of an eerie landscape of black water and deathly omens; a world from which they may never return. RIVER DAWN is a post apocalyptic adventure for older teens, young adults, and readers interested in dystopian fiction

Young Adult Reads Group:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/62676.Young_Adult_Reads

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Divergent by Veronca Roth : Reviewed by Sandee

Title: Divergent (Divergent, #1)
Author: Veronica Roth
Release Date: May 3rd 2011 by Katherine Tegen Books

Synopsis:
n Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.
Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series--dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

Sandee's Review:
Divergent, adjective
- following paths or courses that become increasingly different or separate

A lot of people loved Divergent. It would get a rating this high if it wasn’t that good right? People keep on telling me to read it but as I've mentioned when I reviewed Hunger Games, dystopian is not really my thing so even though I loved HG, I was still a little hesitant to try another dystopian book. Our group actually has a book theme challenge for the month and for February you have to challenge yourself how many dystopian books you could read for the month and I challenged myself 4 books but I doubt I could finish that because of my stupid work schedule. Anyways, Divergent didn’t disappoint. I was so happy that I tried to read this first. I don't read books just because other people read it, I prefer to find out what makes a book popular on my own and with that you either love it or you hate it. In this case, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED DIVERGENT!

The world that Ms. Roth created reminded me a little of the Hunger Games. Instead of being divided into districts like in the Hunger Games, in Divergent the people were divided into factions. Dystopian Chicago here has five factions based on five virtues that each faction possessed: Candor (honesty), Abnegation (selflessness), Dauntlessness (bravery), Amity (peacefulness) and Erudite (wisdom or intelligence). The factions reminded me of the houses in Hogwarts: Griffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. They all had their own House virtue like for example Griffindors were brave while the Ravenclaws were smart and ect.

 Okay, enough of that. Going back.

One day every year, a sixteen year old must select a faction in which they would be belong to for the rest of their lives. They can choose but still they have to take a test to see what faction that would be compatible with (Sorting Hat Ceremony?).


Beatrice "Tris" Prior must choose her faction.

Was she going to choose her own faction and stay with her parents or was she going to choose her own way?

Divergent was well divergent. It was not your ordinary YA dystopian book. It was much more than that. It was also indulging.

CHARACTERS:
I just love the characters. I mentioned in one of my reviews that for a book to be really good it does not only have to have a great plot it also should have great characters. Luckily for Divergent, it has two of those.

Beatrice or Tris was a kickass heroine like Katniss (HG). I just love girls who could stand on their own and who has that don’t-take-crap-from-anybody attitude. She was not physically strong like the other characters in this book but her will made her stronger than all of them. What I liked most about her is how she overcame her fears. She was not dauntless when she transferred factions; she learned how to be because of her will. It is not always easy to stand by on a choice that you made but Tris did that. She tried everything within her power to remain a Dauntless and for me that is very admirable.

I liked Four. The first time he came to the story I already liked him. He was sexy in a mysterious kind of way. Though he seemed dauntless through and through he also has his own fear. Fear of heights?! :D His relationship with Tris just need a little more push because though it was sweet it was still a little lacking for me. But one thing I did like about their relationship was that it wasn’t INSTALOVE. :D At least I think it wasn’t.

The other supporting characters were there for a reason. There are books that have loads of unnecessary characters but not here. Christina, Will, Peter and everyone else has their own parts to play even Tris' family.

Divergent may not one of my favorite books but I would lie if I say I didn’t enjoy it. It was an entertaining read. It has all the quality of a good book so if someone asks me if I would recommend it, I definitely will.

I give this book a 4!



Thursday, February 9, 2012

Dark Seeker by Taryn Browning

Title: Dark Seeker (Seeker, #1)
Author: Taryn Browning
Release Date: October 4th 2011
Edition: Ebook

Synopsis:
She's the Seeker. He's the hunted. What's at stake could kill them both...

For 17-year-old Seeker, Janie Grey, ridding the Baltimore streets of the undead is an inherited duty passed down from her Cherokee ancestors. Seeker Training Lesson #1: Never trust the undead. After her father’s tragic death, Janie creates her own life lesson: Love isn’t worth the risk. Both lessons are easy to follow until she encounters the flawed Kai Sterdam. At first, she believes he is the hybrid she is trained to hunt. But, when he has human traits, she determines she doesn’t know what he is. As Janie’s intrigue over who Kai is pushes her deeper into his mysterious past, she discovers a shocking truth that is even more harrowing than the evil they are up against. It’s a secret Kai wants to keep hidden, especially from Janie.

My Thoughts:
Seventeen year old Janie Grey is a Seeker, a duty passed down from her Cherokee ancestors. She rids the streets of Baltimore of the undead. Lesson #1: Never trust the undead. After her father's death Janie creates her own lesson: Love isn't worth the risk and she usually stick to those lessons until she meet Kai Sterdam. At first, she believes Kai is what she's suppose to hunt, but as Janie becomes intrigued over Kai, she gets deeper into his past and discovers some shocking truth. It's a secret Kai want to keep hidden, especially Janie.


I really enjoyed this book! It was provide to me by the author to review and I loved it. It was a very quick read :) I finished this book in a day! I couldn't put it down because so much was going on in the story. I really like the plot in this book and the characters I loved. This book had a different take on vampires that I really enjoyed. I have been vamp out over the past two years, but I really liked this book.

I really liked Kai and Janie. They are my favorite characters of the book! Janie was a kick ass Seeker, who was reckless, but brave and always did what she needed to do to get the job done. But boy was she stubborn! When she had her mind set on something, she did not back down. I really like Kai ;) So overconfident and sarcastic...I loved it! But when it came to Janie, he was really sweet and always wanted to keep her safe, even though their "friendship" started out a little rocky.

Matt was funny. He was so persistent! But I did like him. Abram, I did not like in the beginning and does Janie refer to her mom by her first name? It is beyond me...

This book had tons of action, which of course, I really enjoyed. Nothing like some good ol' action! And I really enjoyed the romance.

Overall this book was a very fun and quick read. Like I said before, I read it in one day! If you like a fun, quick read with a kick ass leading female character with an amazing male to crush on...You should go ahead and check this book out!


Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Read 2 Review #1 -- Dark Seeker by Taryn Browning

This is our first r2r, which is now taking place in the group. Sign Ups have ended.
But another r2r will start Monday, Feb 13!

Synopsis:
She's the Seeker. He's the hunted. What's at stake could kill them both...

For 17-year-old Seeker, Janie Grey, ridding the Baltimore streets of the undead is an inherited duty passed down from her Cherokee ancestors. Seeker Training Lesson #1: Never trust the undead. After her father’s tragic death, Janie creates her own life lesson: Love isn’t worth the risk. Both lessons are easy to follow until she encounters the flawed Kai Sterdam. At first, she believes he is the hybrid she is trained to hunt. But, when he has human traits, she determines she doesn’t know what he is. As Janie’s intrigue over who Kai is pushes her deeper into his mysterious past, she discovers a shocking truth that is even more harrowing than the evil they are up against. It’s a secret Kai wants to keep hidden, especially from Janie.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Young Adult Reads

Young Adult Reads is a group on Goodreads, I made because I really enjoy Young Adult books :)
There are so many fun things you can do in this group.
 http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/62676.Young_Adult_Reads
  • Group Reads
  • Reading Challenges
  • Games
  • Series vs. Series
  • Top 5
  • etc...
Come check it out.
Check out my main blog:
Synchronized Reading

I host tons of giveaways, reviews, author interviews, etc.