Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy New Year 2013 Giveaway Hop


HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Giving away any YA book up to $10 for this giveaway.  Just follow StuckInBooks and fill out the rafflecopter below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
Now hop along to the next blog....

Appreciation for Jillian Dodd ~ Giveaway

 

“THANK YOU Jillian for all that you do!”

Friends of Jillian Dodd are showing their appreciation!
In appreciation for the hard work and effort indie author Jillian Dodd does behind the scenes for authors, her writing friends are offering YOU the chance to win one of her books! You can choose from one of the Keatyn Chronicles:  STALK ME or KISS ME. Or maybe you prefer one of the titles in the That Boy series: THAT BOY or THAT WEDDING. All books are New Adult contemporary romance. Good luck!


Add to Goodreads

STALK ME

Gossip girl meets Hollywood in this new series by That Boy author, Jillian Dodd.

Keatyn has everything she ever dreamed of. Her life is following the script she wrote for the perfect high school experience. She’s popular, goes to the best parties, dates the hottest guy, and sits at the most coveted lunch table.

She’s just not sure she wants it anymore.

Because really, things aren’t all that perfect.
Her best friend is threatening to tell everyone her perfect relationship is a scam.
Her perfect boyfriend gets drunk at every party they go to.
It’s exhausting always trying to look and act perfect.
And deep down, she isn’t sure if she has any true friends.

To add to the drama, her movie star mom’s long-time fan has turned stalker.
An older man is flirting with her and telling her they should make a movie together.
And she’s crushing on an adorable surfer. Dating a guy like him would mean committing social suicide.

So she writes a new script. One where all the pieces of her life will come together in perfect harmony.
But little does she know, there’s someone who will do anything to make sure that doesn’t happen.

KISS ME

I've always written scripts for my perfect life.
But no way could I have ever scripted this.
My life is so far from perfect, it’s not even funny.
All because of a stalker.

I’m at a boarding school where I have to lie about who I am.
I can’t see my family.
I’m tutoring a Hottie God that tortures me with his smile.
The most popular girl already hates me.
But there’s this boy.
This hot, sweet, sexy boy.
So I’m going to stop trying to script my life and just live it.
Because who knows how long I have left.

THAT BOY

That Boy is a contemporary romance about falling in love with the boys next door.

You know, being friends with two cute boys does have its benefits.

There's Danny. Danny is a golden boy in every way. He has dreamy blue eyes and blonde hair that always looks perfect, even when it’s windblown or been stuck under a football helmet. He’s the boy every girl crushes on. The boy I get into trouble with, the boy I fight with, the hot quarterback no girl can resist, not even me. Being with Danny is like being on an adventure. He has a bright, contagious smile and abs to die for. He’s pretty much irresistible.

Equally crush worthy is Phillip. Adorable, sweet Phillip, who I have known since birth.  Phillip has dark hair, a perfect smile, brown eyes, and the sexiest voice I have ever heard. He’s the boy I talk to every night before I go to sleep. The boy who rescues me, the boy who can read my mind, the boy who is always there for me, the boy who tries to keep me out of trouble, the boy who irritatingly keeps getting hotter, and whose strong arms always seem to find their way around me.  And when he gives me that grin, I can never say no.

One boy will give me my very first kiss.
One boy will teach me to make out.
One boy will take me to prom.
And finally, one boy will ask me to marry him.
They will both be my best friends.
But only one of them will be the boy I fall in love with.
Only one of them is That Boy.

THAT WEDDING 


The gorgeous engagement ring on my finger mimics my happiness.
I feel so sparkly, glittery, and full of promise, because I absolutely know he's that boy.
The boy I want to marry. My prince. My happily ever after.

But then our pastor starts asking lots of questions.
His parents say I haven’t dealt with my past.
I have horrible wedding disaster dreams.
I can’t find the perfect dress.
I have to manipulate him to get my way.
An old boyfriend asks me to run away with him.
My best friend says I'm going to ruin everything.
And forever starts to sound like a really long time.

Which totally freaks me out and makes me question everything I know.

Should best friends get married?
Will my past affect our relationship?
Are my horrible dreams a warning?
Will I ever find a dress?
Could his sexiness be clouding my judgment?
Am I going to ruin everything?
Or is it just a case of cold feet?

And then I have to decide. Am I willing to give up on true love forever, or am I going to listen to my heart and marry him?

About the Author
Jillian is the author of the That Boy series and The Keatyn Chronicles. She grew up on a farm in Nebraska, where she developed a love for Midwestern boys and Nebraska football. She lives in Texas with her family.

***Giveaway****

(1) eBook copy of STALK ME (Keatyn Chronicles, #1), KISS ME (Keatyn Chronicles, #2), THAT BOY (Volume 1), or THAT WEDDING (That Boy, #2). Open International. Books will be gifted from Amazon or Barnes and Noble. 





a Rafflecopter giveaway

Iron's Prophecy (The Iron Fey, #4.5) By Julie Kagawa ~ Review

Add to Goodreads
Source:  Purchased the audio book 

From Goodreads:

Meghan Chase is finally getting used to being the Iron Queen, ruler of the Iron Fey. Her life may be strange, but with former Winter prince Ash by her side at last, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

But when they travel to the Summer and Winter courts’ gathering for Elysium, the oracle from Meghan’s past returns with a dire prophecy: “What you carry will either unite the courts, or it will destroy them.” Now Meghan faces a devastating choice that may determine the future of all fey—and her and Ash’s unborn child…

A novella from the bestselling Iron Fey series



My Thoughts:




4 stars- Loved this series & this is an awesome taste of after

I did listen to this one, as I have this whole series.  I love the narrator,  Khristine Hvam.  Her performance is perfect.

A quick read that has all the favorite characters that I loved so much in The Iron Fey Series, I really enjoyed this one.  It was nice to see to laugh with Puck, see Ash's devotion to Meghan, and hang out with the very witty Gremalkin.  Just like old times, the cat knows the way but really isn't telling.  Big surprise there.  It was so good to see them all together again.

I'm assuming this is setting up the new series in the faery world, The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey - Call of the Forgotten, #1).  I'm very excited to get to that one.  I've loved this whole series and this novella was no exception.  It maybe wasn't enough for me, but then I just need to get The Lost Prince and get started on a new adventure.

If you have loved this series, then this one is a must read.

JLA Readathon ~ Final check-in


Hope you enjoyed the readathon!

Please fill-out this form as your final check-in.

Only people who fill-out the form will be eligible for the prizes.


Sunday, December 30, 2012

JLA Readathon ~ Day 3


Day 3!

There were some technical difficulties with the challenges yesterday but you will find them on Deity Island this morning.

Please check-in on your day 2 progress by leaving a comment below.  

I'll have a form up tomorrow morning for you to give me all your final info.  Then the prizes will be awarded later this week.

Remember that challenges are for readathon participates but you can still sign-up to participate.  Do that here.  AND then leave me a comment here about your plan.
Hope everyone enjoyed the twitter party last night!
Remember the prize pile!

ARC of Cursed SIGNED 
Cursed t-shirt
SIGNED copy of OPAL (By JLA & Pepe)
SIGNED copy of ONYX (By JLA & Pepe)
SIGNED copy of OBSIDIAN (By JLA & Pepe)
JLA swag packs
ALL prizes are INT
Prizes will be awarded to:
Challenge winners
Most pages read (top numbers will be put in a hat)
Rocked your plan (those who do will be put in a hat)


Oh and today is my bday! So happy bday to me. :)

Stacking MY Shelves ~ 12/30/12



Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.  Make sure to checkout her post with links to all the other participates.

This week I won one, went to a $.99 sale, scored one for free, and received two for review.

Won this one!


Love Revolution by Michelle Mankie


The 2nd book in the Black Cat Records Shakespeare inspired series has more MUSIC, more ROMANCE, and much, much, more STEAM...

The wheels of love are always turning at Black Cat Records. Things are just starting to settle down there, but two Texas sisters are fixin’ to stir things up again at the Vancouver record label. CEO Mary Timmons sets spirited country superstar, Sara Daniels, on a collision course with cocky rocker, Chris Alex. Meanwhile, Brutal Strength’s suave drummer, JR, has his head turned by pretty young intern, Samantha Daniels. Do all their highways lead to happiness or will the wheels fly off when the sisters’ tragic past comes back to haunt them?

Love Revolution is a rock ‘n roll romance inspired by Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and is the second book in the Black Cat Records Trilogy.

These are from the $.99 sale I visited!


Light of the Moon by David James


One night long ago, a constellation disappeared and fell from the sky in the form of a boy.

Secrets are being kept in the sleepy town of Lakewood Hollow, Colorado. Nothing but pools of blood and dripping words are left where bodies once were, and no one but Calum Wade seems to be worried. Life unfolds in shades of red for Calum, until a mysterious girl named Kate Black enrolls at his school and everything changes. Suddenly a dangerous world of dream demons, elemental enchanters, and blood witches unfurls before Calum. He learns that the stars have forever held his destiny, and that the constellations above are much more than what they seem. As Kate and Calum sink deep into a paranormal war, they realize that an ancient prophecy might hold the answers they seek. But life is not so easy for Calum, and he can feel his heart beat faster whenever Kate is close. Worse, Kate's blood holds a dark secret even more dangerous than the war between the demons and enchanters. Soon the two find that there are worse things than loving someone you shouldn't. For Calum and Kate, even love and the fiery power of stars may not be enough to break a curse as dark as the blood that binds their destiny.

A romantic story of true love and dark curses, LIGHT OF THE MOON will leave you breathless.

How To Date an Alien by Magan Vernon

Flight by Alyssa Rose Ivy


Sometimes you just have to take flight.

A summer in New Orleans is exactly what Allie needs before starting college. Accepting her dad’s invitation to work at his hotel offers an escape from her ex-boyfriend and the chance to spend the summer with her best friend. Meeting a guy is the last thing on her mind—until she sees Levi.

Unable to resist the infuriating yet alluring Levi, Allie finds herself at the center of a supernatural society and forced to decide between following the path she has always trusted or saving a city that might just save her.


Ephemeral by Addison Moore


Young Adult/ Mature Situations

The last thing Laken Stewart remembers is the oncoming car, then bursting through the windshield.

Two months dissolve without her knowledge and she finds herself in unfamiliar surroundings with strangers who not only profess to know her but insist she’s someone else entirely.

Laken discovers her long dead boyfriend, Wesley, has been thrown into this alternate world as well. He is quick to inform her she suffered a horrible fall and that her memory hasn’t fully returned. According to Wesley the other life she had—her name, her family, they were simply a side effect of her brain trauma.

In her quest for answers she meets Cooper Flanders, the son of her psychiatrist who readily believes every word she says.

Laken Stewart knows she died on that hot July afternoon, but now she’s alive—or is she?


Modified by C.A. Kunz


What would you sacrifice to save the one’s you love? To save the one who holds your heart? To save the world?

Kenley Grayson is all too familiar with these questions.

After Earth is thrust into its first intergalactic war with an unknown race called the Bringers, our military forces begin to suffer heavy losses. Desperate for a solution, the Allied Federation issues a worldwide draft for every able seventeen year old to enlist. As Kenley turns seventeen, she finds herself thrown into the very war that took her older brother’s life.

This year’s draft is a little different than in the past though. A new program, known as the Magnus Project, has been introduced, and only the best and brightest qualify. Kenley is amongst a select few whom are chosen to join this elite group of soldiers, and as a part of this project, undergoes a modification procedure that leaves her and her peers endowed with powers beyond their wildest dreams.

As Earth continues in its struggle against the Bringers, Kenley is transported to a high-tech training facility, the Magnus Academy, to prepare for the major battle that lies ahead. It’s here that she meets the California heartthrob, and son of a legendary war hero, Landon Shaw. As unexpected feelings toward Landon begin to develop, Kenley wonders if this is the right time or place for romance to bloom, especially when those feelings start to interfere with her training.

With the weight of the world on her shoulders, Kenley is constantly reminded of how important she and the rest of the Magnus cadets are to the fate of humanity. She is one of the Modified, Earth’s last line of defense against utter destruction.


Scored this one for free! 


Perfect for You by Kate Perry

 

Freya Godwin's muse has gone MIA.

With Freya just hired to redesign the top adult website company in the country, her muse couldn't have chosen a worse time to disappear. Determined to get her sexy back, Freya puts an ad online, hoping to find the right man to inspire her.

Unfortunately, all roads point back to her upstairs neighbor Greg Cavanaugh. He's everything she doesn't want: a playboy and scumbag lawyer. Except if he's so wrong for her, why does his touch feel like magic? And why does being with him make her believe anything is possible?




Received these from the authors for review - thanks!

The Paparazzi Project by Kristina Springer


Livvie Peterson thought taking Interpersonal Communications her junior year would be an easy A. But when the first assignment is given, her world flips upside down. Here’s the deal: the class is assigned a six-week project and is split into three groups— Paparazzi, Tabloid, and Celebrities. The Paparazzi follow around the Celebrities taking pictures and grabbing any kind of quotes they can. The Celebrities try to navigate being tailed on a daily basis. And the Tabloid receives all the information collected by the Paparazzi and decides what makes the weekly summary report. Sounds harmless…and it’s all just pretend anyway, right?

Livvie is assigned as Paparazzi and when she is matched up with the über-cute Chas Montgomery as her Tabloid boss she’s pretty sure things couldn’t get much better. Livvie’s uncanny ability to capture the Celebrities in compromising photos matched with Chas’s skill of exaggerating captions and editing the photos make them an unstoppable team. And the long hours working side by side with Chas aren’t a bad bonus.

Livvie simultaneously launches an anonymous blog, leaking the class’ photos and stories on the Internet. Her rising follower number quickly becomes addicting and she possibly spills too much information online. Once she finds her own celebrity will she be able to give it back? And will Chas be gone before she ever has the chance to find out?



Up To Me by M. Leighton

 

Happily ever after doesn’t come easy. But for love, it’s always worth the fight.

Olivia finds bliss unlike any she’s ever known in Cash’s arms. He sets her skin on fire and melts her heart right inside her chest. Unfortunately, their happily ever after is short-lived when a shadow from Cash’s past threatens to turn their world upside down.

Dangerous people from his father’s world have discovered that Cash holds information that could put them away for a very long time. And they’re willing to do anything—and hurt anybody—to get it back. Giving it up means Cash must choose between the life of his father and the life of Olivia.

Having nearly overcome her wariness of bad boys, Olivia’s trust is shaken when this new threat arises. Now she finds that Cash is not only a danger to her heart, but his family has associations that are a danger to her life as well. She soon discovers that there are some situations in life where trust is a girl’s only option. And this is one of them. If she’s to live, she must trust Cash with her life. But to Olivia, that’s much, much easier than letting go and trusting him with her heart.

 

 

Pretty good week for me!  What about you? Leave me a comment.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Opal by Jennifer L Armentrout ~ Review

Source:  purchased paperback

From Goodreads:

No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it.


Warning:  Spoilers for Obsidian and Onyx


My Thoughts: 




5 stars -I didn't think I could love Daemon more but I do.

I met this boy in Obsidian whose mouth was always getting him in trouble.  I fell in love with him because I could see that he was really protecting the people he loved by being such an ass AND he was an ass in Obsidian.  But by the end of Obsidian, Katy had become one of the people he loved (though he wasn't admitting it) and I was happy.  Next, I found him in Onyx.  A changed boy in that he allowed Katy to see more of the real sweet guy that he could be, when he wanted to be.  I loved him because he didn't give up on Katy when she made the stupid mistake of trusting Blake.  He proved to her that there was more to them then that alien connection.  His feeling were clear to me, thought he still wasn't admitting he loved her.  His reaction to her captivity by Will was all the proof I needed and had me in a puddle at his feet.  I love Daemon Black.  As big an ass as he is capable of being, he is also protective, sweet, determined, powerful, and sexy as hell.  I didn't think I could love him more. 

Opal proved me wrong.  I love so much that this book has so much together time for Daemon and Katy.  Most series books feel the need to keep the mains at risk of losing each other through every book and the fun together time only lasts for a brief time near the end.  BUT, Opal doesn't do that.  The risks are truly not between Katy and Daemon and I so enjoyed the time they spent together.

Of course, the plot thickens and the risks are EVERYWHERE.  I was guessing wrong left and right.  I will also admit to worrying too much about the ending as I read.  I was wrong about it so don't even try to figure it out.

Daemon Black makes this book, this series all that it is, which is totally out of this world good. (um...pun intended there)  He truly is a sexy alien that just makes it worth the suffering.  I cannot wait to read Origin, book 4 in the Lux series.  I cannot wait to read Obsession, the adult spin off of this series.  Really, I cannot wait to read anything that JLA writes because she is STILL my favorite author.

Book Trailer

 
 




JLA Readathon ~ Day 2


DAY 2!!!

What have you read?

Please check in with a comment below.

Don't forget to head over to Deity Island and work on a challenge later today.

Remember that challenges are for readathon participates but you can still sign-up to participate.  Do that here.  AND then leave me a comment here about your plan.

Hope everyone enjoyed the twitter party last night!

Remember the prize pile!

ARC of Cursed SIGNED 
Cursed t-shirt
SIGNED copy of OPAL (By JLA & Pepe)
SIGNED copy of ONYX (By JLA & Pepe)
SIGNED copy of OBSIDIAN (By JLA & Pepe)
JLA swag packs
ALL prizes are INT
Prizes will be awarded to:
Challenge winners
Most pages read (top numbers will be put in a hat)
Rocked your plan (those who do will be put in a hat)


Friday, December 28, 2012

Winners...

The winner of the SIGNED copy of Opal by Jennifer L Armentrout is 

JenniferG W



The winner of the JKS communications prize pack is

Kylie Carlson 




















Congrats! Both winners have been emailed and have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. 

Thanks everyone for participating.

JLA Readathon ~ Day 1


YAY!

It's here!!!

Time to read JLA books!

So the time has started as of midnight ET and you can read until Sunday at midnight ET.  Feel free to participate as much or as little as you can.  This is a no stress kinda readathon. 

Now for the deets!

TWITTER party tonight!

7PM ET with the hashtag #LoveJLA

It will last 1 hour and then back to reading!

There will be prizes!

Jennifer will be around and I have some little details about her to have you guess about for prizes.

Super fun!

Later today, there will be a challenge up on Deity Island for those that want to try their hand at some JLA book trivia.

Saturday and Sunday will also have challenges up on Deity Island so check back for those.

Here's what I need from you!  Tell me your plan.  What are you going to read?  You can leave me a comment or a link to blog post, but tell me what you're gonna read!  On Sunday, you will report back in on a form telling me how you did with your plan.  Those who rocked their plan will be put in the hat for a prize.

Speaking of prizes!  What to know what I have for you??

Here's the prize pile:

ARC of Cursed SIGNED 
Cursed t-shirt
SIGNED copy of OPAL (By JLA & Pepe)
SIGNED copy of ONYX (By JLA & Pepe)
SIGNED copy of OBSIDIAN (By JLA & Pepe)
JLA swag packs

ALL prizes are INT

Prizes will be awarded to:

Challenge winners
Most pages read (top numbers will be put in a hat)
Rocked your plan (those who do will be put in a hat)


There will also be bookmarks given away at the twitter party.

I hope you enjoy the weekend!

Don't forget to leave me a comment with your plan to qualify for that prize.

Forever My Girl by Heidi McLaughlin ~ Tour Stop & Giveaway


Source:  Received from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

From Goodreads:

I was never supposed to be a rock star. I had my life all planned out for me. Play football in college. Go to the NFL. Marry my high school sweetheart and live happily ever after.

I broke both our hearts that day when I told her I was leaving. I was young. I made the right decision for me, but the wrong decision for us. I’ve poured my soul into my music, but I’ve never forgotten her. Her smell, her smile.

And now I’m going back.

After ten years.

I hope I can explain that after all this time.

I still want her to be my forever girl.


Add to Goodreads
My Thoughts:
 
 

5 stars - Real and messy, this love story will hold you captive until the end.

The sounds of this book had me excited to read it.  What could be better than a guy who makes and mistake and then comes back years later to fix it?  Except that really isn't what this book is about.  Instead, it's about a guy that followed his dream.  His mistake was not taking his girl with him when he did it.  A death brings him back to town but seeing her again is harder than he thought.  He's never stopped loving her.  Too bad she's moved on.  See this isn't a run into each other and fall back into each others arms kinda story.  No, that would have ruined it.  This story is real.  It's messy.  It's a struggle.  It has complications.  And it's genuine.  I can see it happening.  I can feel it happening.

At first, I didn't really like Liam but that lasted just one chapter.  This book rotates between Liam and Josies POV and boy did I love being in Liam's head.  The rock star had some interesting challenges as he made his reappearance in his hometown and I loved hearing his real reactions to it in his mind.  He could hide his feeling to the outside world, like a lot of guys I know.  Loved knowing what was really going on in his head.  I, also, loved how the real guy was so much more than the bad boy rock star image that he had in L.A.  When he was around Josie, the real guy came out and I just loved him.

I loved Josie too.  She's hurt and not about to fall back in his arms.  Good for her.  He didn't deserve it after what he did to her.  I love how she puts him in is place repeatedly.  I love how their relationship is not happening in the present but we get some glimpses of what it was in the past.  I loved how the story has multiple sides.  Things are cut and dry or easily solved.  This is like real life where someone ends up hurting and choices have consequences.  It was sexy and raw with so much depth.  I loved how the time went on because real life doesn't wrap itself up in a month.  Emotions can't be turned off in a day.  People don't just stop being hurt and trust again overnight.  Loved that this book made it real.

The chemistry between Liam and Josie is undeniable.  Either of them has ever stopped loving the other and their bodies remember all to well how deep that love is.  Their attempts at resisting each other is so fun to watch.  And the end was so satisfying and perfect I wanted to cheer.

I wish I could talk about some other parts of this book that made me happy.  I wish I could talk about some of the supporting characters and their reactions to Liam being back in town but I just can't.  I will not spoil or ruin even one little surprise from this book.


I will say that I saw a campaign book possibility in there and I hope it happens. 


The pacing is perfect.  I devoured this in an evening.  If adult contemporary is your thing, then this book needs to be moved to the top of your TBR list.






Giveaway


 The first 200 people to purchase FOREVER MY GIRL will get a free download of the song PAINKILLERS! Just e-mail your proof of purchase to thebeaumontseries@gmail [dot] com.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Blog Tour hosted by 


You can keep up with the tour HERE.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Holiday eBook Sale & Amazon Gift Card Giveaway




The Post-Christmas Holiday Book Sale, hosted by the Indie Book Festival, will kick off on December 28 and run through December 31. All books will be .99!! The Indie Book Festival will be posting the participating books to their Facebook page as well. The Indie Book Festival website is the premier online website for seasonal ebook sales events! From Halloween to Valentine's Day – we'll celebrate it by bringing you bestselling books by today’s hottest Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal and Young Adult indie authors.


You can also enter to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card now!

Gravity by Melissa West ~ Review

Add to Goodreads
Source:  Received eBook from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

From Goodreads:

In the future, only one rule will matter:

Don’t. Ever. Peek.

Seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander just broke that rule and saw the last person she expected hovering above her bed — arrogant Jackson Locke, the most popular boy in her school. She expects instant execution or some kind of freak alien punishment, but instead, Jackson issues a challenge: help him, or everyone on Earth will die.

Ari knows she should report him, but everything about Jackson makes her question what she’s been taught about his kind. And against her instincts, she’s falling for him. But Ari isn’t just any girl, and Jackson wants more than her attention. She’s a military legacy who’s been trained by her father and exposed to war strategies and societal information no one can know — especially an alien spy, like Jackson. Giving Jackson the information he needs will betray her father and her country, but keeping silent will start a war.


My Thoughts:

 

5 stars - Unexpected twists and tuns make this fast read awesome

When I first read the blurb for this book, I was interested.  I had an idea of what I expected but this book wasn't what I expected at all.  It was far better.  Ari is a strong, thoughtful and well trained girl living in a world where positions of leadership are inherited from parents.  In line to be the next commander, she trains daily to fight and think so that human will be safe from the aliens threats.  But she's torn between her loyalty to humans, especially her father, and the need to save them all from their own arrogance.  It's  a battle she wages a lot and may have never really won.  But she does start to see that nothing is as it appears.  She wonders who is right and who is wrong?  Who should she trust and who should she fight?  Are the feeling she has for this boy returned or is it all a game he's trying to win?

As some things are answered, more questions develop.  Ari tries to make the best decisions she can in the current circumstances and I was very happy that she had a sense of right and wrong that went beyond loyalty.  I really did like her.

As for Jackson, I'm still wishing there was more of him in this book.  Don't get me wrong, he was around a lot and I really love him.  My faith is totally behind him but I didn't learn enough about him to satisfy me.  I want more.  He's gorgeous and alien.  He has responsibilities that he doesn't always want to have.  He fights the feeling he has for Ari, more to protect her than anything else.  He doesn't always do a good job with that fight.  He has all the things I like in a guy but I really need to know more about him.  I hope that book 2 gives us much more Jackson.

The story itself was a roller coaster ride jerking and swinging around a course that was both exciting and emotional.  It builds a dystopian world that was repaired by aliens after a devastating world war. Full of incredible technology and brutal unfairness, the wealthy have much and the poor are given but little.  The mystery of the aliens and their true plans are hinted at but may have only begun to become clear in this first book in The Taking series.  It was odd how the humans both fought against and cooperated with the aliens.  I found it much like the enigma of modern politics.  Intriguing, baffling and utterly captivating, this story had me flipping the pages trying to figure it all out.  Do I have the answers, now that I've finished the book?  Not really.  What I do have is a long wait for book 2, Hover, which isn't out until August of 2013.  You can bet I'll be reading it right after that date because I really need to know a few answers to some questions that are driving me nuts.

If you like YA and sci fi then this book needs to be the next one you pick up.