SHATTERED SOULS By Mary Lindsey

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

SHATTERED SOULS By Mary LindseyShattered Souls by Mary Lindsey
Series: Souls #1
Published by Speak on 12/6/12
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 336
Format: Hardcover
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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ReviewedbyDani

Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries.

Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.

Short and Sweet Review

Lenzi’s dad recently died he committed suicide, because he couldn’t get rid of the voices in his head. Now, Lenzi is starting to hear things and see things too. One night in the graveyard Lenzi meets a stranger named Alden,who tells Lenzi that she is a Speaker, she has the ability to speak to lost souls and help them to find rest in death by freeing them from the problems that keep them bound to Earth. Alden is her Protector, he protects her from Malevolents, violent spirits who don’t want to be helped, but who could potentially possess Lenzi’s body, using it to take out their rage or revenge. The problem is there is a malevolent spirit who wants revenge on Lenzi and she doesn’t know why. I loved this book it was like Ghost Whisperer in book form. I liked seeing how Lenzi had to adjust to this new life of being a speaker and learning how to do things again. This book had so many elements I liked, my favorite thing would have to be learning about Lenzi’s past lives as a speaker. It was interesting and it also helps us find out what this malevolent spirit wants from her. Alden is sweet and charming although he does have his moments where he can be awkward. The plot is great and had me hooked the book is creepy and has a bit of a mysterious vibe to it. Definitely pick this one up if you like books about ghost or want a book with Ghost Whisperer vibes!

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BETWEEN THE SPARK AND THE BURN By April Genevieve Tucholke

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

BETWEEN THE SPARK AND THE BURN By April Genevieve TucholkeBetween the Spark and the Burn by April Genevieve Tucholke
Series: Between #2
Published by Speak on 8/4/15
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Gothic, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 352
Format: Paperback
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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ReviewedbyDani

The crooked-smiling liar River West Redding, who drove into Violet's life one summer day and shook her world to pieces, is gone. Violet and Neely, River's other brother, are left to worry—until they catch a two a.m. radio program about strange events in a distant mountain town. They take off in search of River but are always a step behind, finding instead frenzied towns, witch hunts, and a wind-whipped island with the thrum of something strange and dangerous just under the surface. It isn't long before Violet begins to wonder if Neely, the one Redding brother she thought trustworthy, has been hiding a secret of his own . . .

Short and Sweet

After the events from the last book Violet can’t stop thinking about River. The gang decides to leave Citizen Kane and go looking for River in different towns where strange things are happening.

My Thoughts

~ My favorite part of this book was the road trip the group is following leads to different places just to find River. The gang gets these leads from a radio show that only Neely and Violet are into listening.

~ We meet new characters in these towns where the gang visits. I feel like Violet is way too trusting of strangers. I don’t want to spoil anything but if you read the book you’ll know what I mean.

~ Violet finds Freddie’s diary and learns more about her grandmothers past and about her experiences with the “glow.”

~ I definitely enjoyed this book more than the first book. The world building was amazing. We get to go to mountains, towns near the sea, and another quint town that resembles Echo.

~ There was more character development in this book. Violet was more brave and tried to take things head on and Neely gets more of a focus in this book.

~ I didn’t like the romance in this book either. Violet was with Neely a lot in this book and I think she was just using him until she got back to River.

~ I liked Neely, we learn he has a lot of love for his family especially his brothers. Neely would use his power to counteract what his brother’s power was doing, even if it was slowly killing him.

Overall

This sequel is worth the read! The writing in this book is beautiful. The ending was a bit open ended and left you to use your imagination as to what would happen next. This book was enjoyable and entertaining. Check this duology out if you haven’t!!!

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BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA By April Genevieve Tucholke

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA By April Genevieve TucholkeBetween the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke
Series: Between #1
Published by Speak on 7/3/14
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Gothic, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 384
Format: Hardcover
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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ReviewedbyDani

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White's sleepy, seaside town... until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet's crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet's grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery...who makes you want to kiss back. Violet's already so knee-deep in love, she can't see straight. And that's just how River likes it.

Short and Sweet

Violet White and her brother Luke have lived in Echo their whole life. When their parents travel around the world to get inspiration for their art they leave the twins by themselves in the small town. When a mysterious and gorgeous boy named River rents the room in mansion, Violet realizes he’s not just any normal boy.

My Thoughts

~ The setting is what made the story for me, the atmosphere in the town was creepy and this small town had a lot of secrets.

~ Violet was a unique main character she was very perspective and always noticed the smallest details.

~ I didn’t like the romance between Violet and River, it felt like River was using his powers to make Violet do things.

~ When River arrives in town strange things start happening like kids hunting the devil in the graveyard.

~ River’s power was weird and it was hard for me to understand, he could manipulate what people saw and felt, especially Violet. I didn’t like how Violet knew that River was manipulating her feelings but did nothing about it.

~ There were quite a few side characters so there wasn’t much room for character development in this book.

~ I was a bit annoyed with some characters, mainly Luke. I didn’t like some of the things he said to Violet and I feel like some of the other characters would pile onto his insults.

~ There were twist in the plot that I wasn’t expecting that kept me reading.

~ The ending was… I don’t know how to describe the ending. It just made you wonder who you could trust because most of the people in the town were being manipulated by these powers.

Overall

I enjoyed this book, it was different from anything I’ve read. What kept me reading was the intriguing plot and it made me want to know what was going to happen next. I plan on reading the sequel just to see how things plan out.

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I WAS HERE By Gayle Forman

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I WAS HERE By Gayle FormanI Was Here by Gayle Forman
Published by Speak on 1/26/16
Genres: Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 304
Format: Paperback
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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ReviewedbyDani

When her best friend Meg drinks a bottle of industrial-strength cleaner alone in a motel room, Cody is understandably shocked and devastated. She and Meg shared everything—so how was there no warning? But when Cody travels to Meg’s college town to pack up the belongings left behind, she discovers that there’s a lot that Meg never told her. About her old roommates, the sort of people Cody never would have met in her dead-end small town in Washington. About Ben McAllister, the boy with a guitar and a sneer, and some secrets of his own. And about an encrypted computer file that Cody can’t open—until she does, and suddenly everything Cody thought she knew about her best friend’s death gets thrown into question.

Short and Sweet

After Cody’s best friend, Meg commits suicide, Cody decides to discover what led Meg to do what she did. Cody goes to Meg’s college to pack up her belongings and realizes she didn’t know much about Meg’s life in Seattle.

My Thoughts

~ The main plot was Cody coming to terms with Meg’s death. Cody feels a lot of grief because she didn’t know Meg was suicidal.

~ When Cody gets to Seattle for Meg’s stuff she finds an online forum and some emails on Meg’s computer. These things start Cody’s exploration of the truth behind Meg’s suicide.

~ I don’t know how to feel about the romance because Ben was in a relationship with Meg first and I don’t know it was just weird. I mean is it okay to date your best friend’s old flame?

~Towards the end Cody started to put her life in danger, and I was trying to figure out what she thought she had to gain by doing this.

Overall

The ending to me was a bit anti-climactic, and I still didn’t know where the relationship was going. The message in the book is clear and I would recommend it, it addresses the topic of suicide well and how it affects those close to you.

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WHERE SHE WENT By Gayle Forman

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

WHERE SHE WENT By Gayle FormanWhere She Went by Gayle Forman
Series: If I Stay #2
Published by Speak on 4/7/12
Genres: Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 304
Format: Paperback
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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ReviewedbyDani

Ever since Mia's decision to stay - but not with him - Adam's career has been on a wonderful trajectory. His album, borne from the anguish and pain of their breakup, has made him a bona fide star. And Mia herself has become a top-rate cellist, playing in some of the finest venues in the world. When their respective paths put them both in New York City at the same time, the result is a single night in which the two reunite - with wholly satisfying results.

Short and Sweet

Adam, an infamous bad boy rocker, has been in an emotional and mental state since his girlfriend, Mia Hall left him. Three years later chance brings Adam and Mia together for one more night and we follow these two around New York for 24 hours. During their time together Mia and Adam get to talk about what’s really important.

Quotes

~ “I needed to hate someone and you’re the one I love the most, so it fell on you.

Overall

Adam’s journey in this book is the main focus. Adam definitely needed the time with Mia to finally understand his feelings and deal with the pain she caused him three years ago. I enjoyed Where She Went more than If I Stay. I was on Adam’s side every single page and almost resented Mia at times for hurting him so much.  I liked the way that the story came kind of full circle, and Adam did get his closure, even though it came through finding out things that certainly hurt. I would definitely read more books by Gayle Forman in the future.

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IF I STAY By Gayle Forman

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

IF I STAY By Gayle FormanIf I Stay by Gayle Forman
Series: If I Stay #1
Published by Speak on 4/6/10
Genres: Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 320
Format: Paperback
Source: Reviewer Purchase
Buy on Amazon

ReviewedbyDani

In the blink of an eye everything changes. Seventeen ­year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall what happened afterwards, watching her own damaged body being taken from the wreck. Little by little she struggles to put together the pieces- to figure out what she has lost, what she has left, and the very difficult choice she must make. Heartwrenchingly beautiful, this will change the way you look at life, love, and family

Short and Sweet

After a devastating car accident, Mia wakes up only to find herself out of her body. Mia is caught between a choice of staying alive without her family or passing on. Mia witnesses how her remaining loved ones deal with the loss of her family, and weighs the decision of leaving versus the decision of staying behind. Ultimately, the choice is up to Mia and this choice is a matter of life or death.

What I Liked

~ The flashbacks, it gave the book an interesting tone.

~ The Music, I love that there was so many different kinds introduced in this book. I loved how it brought people together and drove people apart as well.

~ I also loved Mia she was easy to connect to.

What I Didn’t Like

~ At some points I found myself getting disinterested.

Quotes

~ “I realize now that dying is easy. Living is hard.”

~ “But the you who you are tonight is the same you I was in love with yesterday, the same you I’ll be in love with tomorrow.”

Overall

If I Stay was such a moving and captivating read. This book is incredible. It’s a short read and wonderfully written. But I did have to push through sometimes, because I did get a little bored. Otherwise everything was great and it had me guessing up until the very end what Mia would choose to do.

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