Review: The Perilous Sea

Title:  The Perilous Sea
Series:  The Elemental Trilogy #2
Author:  Sherry Thomas (Website | Twitter)
Age Group:  Young Adult
Publisher:  Balzer + Bray
Publication Date:  September 16, 2014
Source:  Bought

After spending the summer away from each other, Titus and Iolanthe (still disguised as Archer Fairfax) are eager to return to Eton College to resume their training to fight the Bane. Although no longer bound to Titus by a blood oath, Iolanthe is more committed than ever to fulfilling her destiny—especially with the agents of Atlantis quickly closing in.
Soon after arriving at school, though, Titus makes a shocking discovery, one that makes him question everything he previously believed about their mission. Faced with this devastating realization, Iolanthe is forced to come to terms with her new role, while Titus must choose between following his mother's prophecies—and forging a divergent path to an unknowable future.

Find The Perilous Sea online

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My Review:  After reading and completely falling in love with the first book in the series, I'll admit, I was a little nervous to pick up this one.  I hyped it up so much in my head that I was worried it would disappoint me.  While this wasn't as good as the first one was to me, I still enjoyed it a lot!

One of the things that I didn't like as much in this novel was the alternating time periods.  It wasn't that much of a difference - one time period was only a few weeks after the other.  But it still bothering me a bit.  It took me out of the story.  I just wanted to focus on one plot line an it felt like two separate ones.  Toward the end of the book, I was getting used to it and to minding as much.  

As always, I loved the characters in this book!  We got to see and learn more about them, particularly some side characters which I really enjoyed.  I loved seeing how they all connected and were being brought together.  It was just so satisfying figuring out what was happening and trying to guess what would happen next.  I was a bit unhappy with the rather unnecessary issues that cropped up between Iolanthe and Titus but they were resolved semi-quickly and they did add to the twists throughout the book.  

Speaking of twists...

I use that gif in the best possible way.  Holy smokes, there were twists left and right in this book and I couldn't get enough of them!  The moment I thought I new what was about to happen, Sherry Thomas threw a curve ball and I was left speechless.  I just loved it!  It made the plot so much more exciting and interesting.  

The Perilous Sea had its problems but I still loved reading it!  With the ending we are left with, I'm just dying to get my hands on the third book of this series!  I couldn't be more excited to see what happens next with Titus and Iolanthe.

“He put his hand over hers. "Am I a coward?"

"Because you are afraid?No. Only fools are never afraid.” 

Four Cards

Review: The Retribution of Mara Dyer

Title:  The Retribution of Mara Dyer
Series:  Mara Dyer #3
Author:  Michelle Hodkin (Website | Twitter)
Age Group:  Young Adult
Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date:  November 2, 2014
Source:  Bought

Mara Dyer wants to believe there's more to the lies she’s been told.
There is.
She doesn’t stop to think about where her quest for the truth might lead.
She should.
She never had to imagine how far she would go for vengeance.
She will now.
Loyalties are betrayed, guilt and innocence tangle, and fate and chance collide in this shocking conclusion to Mara Dyer’s story.
Retribution has arrived.

Find The Retribution of Mara Dyer online

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My Review:  It's sort of amazing to me right now that I'm actually writing a review for this novel.  It has been pushed back so many times and the wait has seemed endless but now, it's finally here.  And holy cow, guys.  The wait, I am thrilled to say, was totally worth it.  This had the same smarts, snark, romance, and mind-blowing revelations as the previous two novels and I am so happy with the way this trilogy has wrapped up.  I can safely say this in my top five favorite trilogies.  

Possibly my favorite thing about this series is the characters.  They are all gold.  Seriously, I love them so much.  Mara is a wonderfully complex character and every time I get a chance to see from her eyes, it's amazing.  As Mara struggles with right and wrong, so does the reader.  I find myself sympathizing and cheering her on, even when she does some pretty horrible things.  She has her good and bad qualities and her flaws really only make me like her more.  That, and her amazing sense of humor.  Another character I came to appreciate a lot more in this novel is Jamie.  I mean, I knew I liked him before but now I just adore him.  The way he supports Mara is great and I like his blunt way of saying things.  He's a very interesting side character.  

And, of course, there's Noah.  

This guy.  THIS GUY.  I love him.  Simple as that.  He's sort of a terrible person and he is definitely twisted but I just can't get enough of him.  He's so just....ARG!  I can't even explain the feels that I'm feeling about him.  His humor, his dedication, his loyalty, his undying and unwavering love for Mara...I can't.  I can't with any of it.  My heart is bursting with love for him.  And the fact that we were able to see from his POV in this novel basically made my entire month.  I loved being able to finally get into his head and see how he feels about these situations.  

I am completely, totally, 100% satisfied with the ending to this series.  I want more but I'll always want more just because it is so amazing.  Michelle Hodkin could write a book of just Mara and Noah bantering back and forth and I'd pay money to have it.  I'm sad this trilogy is over but I'm so excited to see what she comes up with next!

“Names?' the receptionist asked us.

“Jesus,” Jamie answered.

“Mary,” said Stella.

“Satan,” I said as I walked past her and pushed open the door to Ira Ginsberg’s office.” 

As a special treat, I've also been offered a sound clip of the audio book of The Retribution of Mara Dyer by the wonderful people over at Audible!  If you want to hear a bit of this awesome reading, go here! 

Five Cards

Review & Guest Post: The Reason I Stay

Today I have the honor of welcoming Patty Maximini to the blog!  She is the author of The Reason I Stay, a romantic and emotional story about two people who struggle to overcome obstacles and come together.  

Title:  The Reason I Stay

Series:  None

Author:  Patty Maximini (Website | Twitter) 

Age Group:  New Adult

Publisher:  Self Published

Publication Date:  September 10, 2014

Source:  The publisher via Xpresso Book Tours

Jack Daniels is the cure to all evils.
Sex should be casual and, preferably, anonymous.
Giving a damn is for nurses, philanthropists and suicide hotlines.
My name is Mathew Rogers and those are the values I built my adult life around. They are also the reason I had to forsake everything I loved in Seattle and embark on a solitary road trip across the country, with no direction other than searching for the next small town, the next girl, and the closest liquor store.
Boredom, frustration and a series of unfortunate decisions led me to the rickety-ass town of Jolene, Alabama—a town I wanted to leave behind from the moment I passed the welcome sign. But it was there where I met her. The girl who made me question everything I’ve always believed in, and the only one who has ever had the power to break my heart.
Her name is Lexie.
She’s beautiful, and I’m pretty sure she hates me.
And for once in my life, I give enough of a damn that I keep finding a reason to stay.

Find The Reason I Stay online

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Goodreads

My Review:  This was a fun, contemporary, and romantic read that I really enjoyed.  There was a lot I enjoyed and that made this a fast and entertaining novel.  There were some things that didn't sit as well with me but for the most part, The Reason I Stay was a cute, quick read.  

I adored the characters in this novel, especially Lexie.  The way she dealt with Mathew when he was giving her attitude was amazing.  There isn't nearly enough novels in the New Adult and Young Adult genres with female characters that stand up to themselves against their love interests.  Her quick wit and strong standings are what made her so likable.  She didn't put up with things that she felt shouldn't be said or done to her.  I really didn't like Mathew at first.  I didn't see and understand the reason behind why he was acting like such a jerk to Lexie and everyone around him.  Once we got some insight on his past, it was easier to sympathize with him and grow to like him.  

The relationship that grew between Lexie and Mathew was so cute and really sincere.  It grew slowly and it felt real as it developed.  There was a slight case of insta-love (or at least insta-attraction) on Mathew's side but the relationship still felt genuine and believable.  The plot was very much intertwined with the growth of the relationship so the it moved with them.  

The Reason I Stay was a book that left me with a smile on my face.  The relationship was slow-building and fun to read about and see develop.  While there were some tiny things I didn't totally love but, for the most part, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Lexie and Mathew.  

"Every second we're together, you reach inside me and erase a bit of the guy I used to be."

Four Cards

I also got the chance to ask Patty Maximini what her top ten favorite fictional couples!

Top 10 favorite fictional couples

Lucas and Jacqueline (Easy)

Noah and Allie (The Notebook)

Augustus and Hazel (The Fault in Our Stars)

Holder and Sky (Hopeless)

Ryan and Taryn (Love Unscripted) 

Alex and Kali (The Kali Lockton Series)

Jace and Clary (The Mortal Instruments Series)

Pudge and Alaska (Looking for Alaska)

Daniel and Six (Finding Cinderella)

Ian and Sparrow (True Love Story)

Review: The Burning Sky

Title:  The Burning Sky
Series:  The Elemental Trilogy #1
Author:  Sherry Thomas (Website | Twitter)
Age Group:  Young Adult
Publication Date:  September 17, 2013 by Blazer + Bray
Source:  Bought

It all began with a ruined elixir and an accidental bolt of lightning…
Iolanthe Seabourne is the greatest elemental mage of her generation—or so she's being told. The one prophesied for years to be the savior of The Realm. It is her duty and destiny to face and defeat the Bane, the greatest mage tyrant the world has ever known. A suicide task for anyone let alone a sixteen-year-old girl with no training, facing a prophecy that foretells a fiery clash to the death.
Prince Titus of Elberon has sworn to protect Iolanthe at all costs but he's also a powerful mage committed to obliterating the Bane to avenge the death of his family—even if he must sacrifice both Iolanthe and himself to achieve his goal.
But Titus makes the terrifying mistake of falling in love with the girl who should have been only a means to an end. Now, with the servants of the Bane closing in, he must choose between his mission and her life. 

Find The Burning Sky online

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My Review:  Wow, this book took me completely by surprise.  I picked it up on a whim because I loved the cover (does anyone else see the eyes in the wings of the fire dragon/bird?) and I let it sit on my shelf for a while.  Finally, after having made a dent in my TBR pile, I picked it up and started reading and just couldn't stop.  The Burning Sky is a novel that grabbed my attention from the start and got better and better as I raced through it.

I adore Iolanthe and Titus.  At first, I wasn't quite sure what to think of them but as we got to learn more about them and saw more of their past, I just couldn't help but fall in love.  They made an amazing pair and I liked the way their relationship progressed.  It wasn't always happy fun times.  Seeing them learn to accept each other and the situation they were in was awesome and showed a lot about their personalities.  Iolanthe was a strong heroine and also relatable.  She wasn't invincible and she showed vulnerability at times.  But when push came to shove, she always rose to the occasion and dealt with the situation and consequences.  Prince Titus was arrogant and petulant to the people around him but, on the inside, he craved companionship.  He was desperate to be normal but in his position, it was impossible.  He was weighed down by responsibility and what the future holds but he must always keep on a mask for the public.  Seeing him open up with Iolanthe was so adorable and refreshing.  He cared deeply for her and seeing that romantic dance pay out in both their point of views made it all the better.  Whenever they were together I was just like

Besides the totally wonderful cast of characters, the world that Sherry Thomas created just completely blew me away.  There were a lot of different layers to it which was a little overwhelming at first.  I just rolled with all the information we were getting and caught on pretty quickly.  After that, it's easy to appreciate both the beauty and horror that this world offers.  Everything felt like the spinning wheel in Sleeping Beauty: enchanting but dangerous if touched.  

Within that world was magic which was, next to Iolanthe and Titus's relationship, my favorite part of the novel.  It was so interesting to read about and I really liked all of the different aspects of it.  Some of it was reminiscent of the magic in Harry Potter but for the most part, this magic stood on its own rather successfully.  I especially liked the idea of the Crucible, a book a fairytales that allowed people to jump in and play a part in the story.  What I wouldn't give for that...

The Burning Sky was a surprising book that has made it to a spot on my favorites list.  It has a little something for everyone: magic, adventure, retellings, and romance.  This is a novel that you won't want to miss.  I'm so excited for the second book, The Perilous Sea, to release!  

“We will never accomplish anything worthwhile in life if we require the guarantee of success at the onset.” 

Five Cards

Review: Maybe Someday

Title:  Maybe Someday
Series:  None
Author:  Colleen Hoover
Age Group:  New Adult
Publication Date:  March 18, 2014 by Atria Books
Source:  Bought

At twenty-two years old, aspiring musician Sydney Blake has a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her good friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers Hunter cheating on her with Tori—and she is left trying to decide what to do next.

Sydney becomes captivated by her mysterious neighbor, Ridge Lawson. She can’t take her eyes off him or stop listening to the daily guitar playing he does out on his balcony. She can feel the harmony and vibrations in his music. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either: He seems to have finally found his muse. When their inevitable encounter happens, they soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one…

Find Maybe Someday online

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My Review:  This book genuinely took me by surprise.  I went into this looking for a soft, fun read that would be entertaining but what I got was something far more.  Maybe Someday completely blew me away with its depth, realistic characters, and surprising situations.

We were immediately dropped into a terrible situation with our protagonist, Sydney: her boyfriend cheated on her with her best friend and she was basically homeless.  My heart absolutely broke for her.  I can't even imagine how terrible that situation would be.  Sydney, even though she was hurting from the situations she was put in, stayed strong.  She didn't let it overwhelm her and she rolled with what she was dealt and I really admired that with her.  She was a strong character but she didn't wall herself off so completely that she was harsh or hard.  She was also sweet and vulnerable.  

Ridge was just out of this world.  I really adored him.  From the moment we see him for the first time, I loved him!  He was so sweet and I really admired him for the way he handled the situation he was in with Sydney.  He was such a nice and honest guy and he tried so hard to keep on the right path.  He was torn between what he felt was right and what he loved and seeing that struggle in him was tragic.  I also really had not seen that shock in the beginning about him coming but I appreciated it so much.  It gave his character another layer and it really made his and Sydney's relationship all the better.  The relationship they began to develop was so amazing and honest.  I loved their straightforwardness and the way they worked hard to make sure there were never any doubts about what they were.  

The music aspect of this novel was amazing.  I'm not a musician myself but I definitely appreciate the work that goes into the making of music and the product that comes out.  Seeing that process between two characters was amazing and made all the better by the playlist that went along with the story which you can find here. 

With twists and turns I didn't see coming and a cast of characters that were so raw and real, Maybe Someday is a book I have fallen in love with!  If you love unconventional characters, refreshing honesty, and a romance that is positively swoon-worthy, than this is a story you do not want to miss. 

Five Cards

Review: Eleanor & Park

Title:  Eleanor & Park
Series:  None
Author:  Rainbow Rowell
Age Group:  Young Adult

Publication Date:  February 26, 2013 by St. Martin's Press 

Source:  Given to me as a gift.  Thanks, Dad and Mike!

Two misfits.
One extraordinary love.

Eleanor... Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough...Eleanor.

Park... He knows she'll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There's a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises...Park.

Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.

Find Eleanor & Park online

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Goodreads

My Review:  After reading and falling in love with Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, I knew I had to find more by this author.  Of course, the first novel that came to mind was this one!  I'd heard so much praise surrounding it so, even though I was a little wary because of the rising mountain that was my expectations, I decided to give it a try.  I am seriously so happy that I did.  This is a novel that I know will stick with me for a long time.  Filled with tough familial situations, slow developing relationships, and characters that have forever been branded in my heart, Eleanor & Park is a story that I'm glad I gave a chance.

I didn't know what I thought would happen when I went into this novel but what I got was definitely different but much better than what I had been expecting.  It broke away from the norms of the young adult genre and I loved that.  There was no insta-love or even insta-attraction between these characters.  The way their relationship developed was slow burning and real.  As I read, I could feel Eleanor and Park's feelings for another slowly growing.  It was a gradual process and allowed us time to meet and become properly acquainted with our characters who come from very different worlds.  

Eleanor does not have a good family life at all.  She was basically kicked out of her home only to return a year later (when this story starts off) to a family that has been drastically changed and is being controlled by her evil step father.  They are suffering from poverty and trying to care for Eleanor's many younger brothers and sisters so she's far down on the list of priorities.  Seeing her in this situation was very painful.  She tried so hard to hide her feelings about how terrible it was.  Still, considering her age and the unfairness of the life she had been given, she handled things very well.  Of course, it was still extremely hard on her and the way she was treated by other people didn't help.  

Park's life was the complete opposite.  He had a loving mother, a father that, while harsh at times, still cared, and only one brother.  They were comfortable financially and he had friends.  Even still, his life wasn't ideal.  He dealt with things that were maybe not as hard as what Eleanor was dealing with but were still hard all the same.  I could relate a lot more with Park but sympathized and felt more for Eleanore.  Seeing them finally come together was amazing and heart warming.  I absolutely adored the way they slowly got to talking; it was unbelievably cute and sweet.  But their friendship and relationship always held a undertone of danger.  They were never fully free to express their feelings for each other in public because of the possible consequences with Eleanor's step father.  

Plot wise, this story had a lot going on but it never felt rushed.  A lot of it was steps they were taking in their relationship and Eleanore trying to handle the problems with her family.  I wanted to savor every moment I had with these characters but I truthfully just couldn't stop myself from flying through the pages.  I was unable to put it down. The ending was bittersweet.  I knew from the beginning something like that would end up happening and it hurt.  I cried hard for these characters.  But even when things looked completely bleak, there was still a small glimmer of hope.

Eleanor & Park should be a novel that everyone has on their to-be-read list.  If not for the amazing writing style and characters then for the lessons and themes throughout.  I can't wait to read more of Rainbow Rowell's works.

“Eleanor was right. She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something.” 

 Five Cards

Review: Fall With Me

Title:  Fall With Me
Series:  None
Author:  Julie Particka
Age Group:  New Adult
Published:  April 28, 2014 by Entangled Publishing
Source:  A copy was provided by the publisher n exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

In the game of love…

Dumped by her college boyfriend for her best friend, the last thing Jenna Brandt needs to deal with is working beside her backstabbing-BFF's hotter-than-hot brother. But when he offers her a chance to get some revenge on her ex, she can hardly say no--even if spending more time with Sutton puts her heart in jeopardy all over again.

Someone's going to get hurt…

Sutton Bell has had a thing for Jenna since they were in high school, but after one screwed-up night, she didn’t want anything to do with him. Now, with just the summer before he leaves to begin his new career, Sutton’s determined to convince Jenna he’s not the player he used to be. But saving his sister from making an awful mistake may mean losing Jenna for good.

My Review:  Fall With Me was a book that I was extremely excited to hear about.  I was in the mood for a fun, romantic read and this sounded like a perfect fit.  While it is both fun and romantic, it is not exactly what I had been expecting.  After reading the blurb, I was looking forward to watching Sutton and Jenna work the plan they made together.  However, there was less of that and more unnecessary drama between Sutton and Jenna.  

 First off, I really liked the relationship between Sutton and Jenna at the start of the book.  They were cute and funny and I enjoyed the banter between them.  I liked seeing the way they began to work together and trust each other.  However, I often felt like they were the causes of all of their problems.  I didn't understand the logic they used when making decisions.  I could see so obviously that the choices they were making would not lead to good things but they were blind to it. They made more drama than was believable.  Also, I felt like we didn't get to know them all that well because they had previously known each other before getting together so there was no period of time where they were discovering each other so we never were able to discover them, either.  

The plot was fun and pretty fast but it wasn't what I had been expecting.  I was really looking forward to watching the plan Sutton and Jenna had devised unfold throughout the novel.  However, the execution lasted only two days and there was hardly anything involved with it.  Rather than being the driving force of the plot, it was just a tool used to bring Jenna and Sutton together.  The rest was just sort of them muddling through their relationship and making problems that were easily avoidable.  

Toward the end, I really didn't even know what was going on.  Sutton's logic for the things he did was absolutely horrible and so completely unbelievable that I couldn't even pretend that I understood them.  Again, just the conflicts and the logic they used to progress the plot were unbelievable and hard to follow.  

Despite my obvious problems with Fall With Me, I did actually enjoy reading it quite a lot.  I began reading and absolutely could not put it down.  This is a novel that, while I probably won't go back to it, I was happy I had the chance to read.

Three Cards

 

ARC Review: Alienated

Title:  Alienated
Series:  Alienated #1
Author:  Melissa Landers
Published:  February 4, 2014 by Disney Hyperion
Source:  Sent to me by the totally amazing Jen from Jenuine Cupcakes.  Check out her blog!  She has cupcakes!

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.

Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.

But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

My Review:  A huge thanks to Jen at Jenuine Cupcakes for giving my the chance to read and review this book early!  You rock :) 

Like I've heard many other people say, I became immediately obsessed with this book when I saw the cover.  It hooked my attention right off the bat and when I read the blurb, I was even more smitten.  When I began reading the actual book, I fell even harder.  The pages of this novel are laced with action, adventure, humor, and a romance that is sure to make anyone swoon!

I've been reading a lot of Science Fiction books recently and I'm really loving the dual POVs featured in them and this book was no exception.  Being able to hear and see from both characters is so important to the world building and the character growth throughout the novel.  Seeing Earth from Aelyx (A-Licks) point of view was both hilarious and heart wrenching.  I felt for him and how alone and isolated he felt being in a new world where nearly everyone was against him.  I was horrified by the way he was treated but also adored watching him discover and learn all of the different gadgets here.  

I also enjoyed seeing from Cara's eyes.  I understood how nervous and scared she was about welcoming a boy (one from a different planet, no less) into her home to live with her.  But I loved seeing her be undeterred by her fears and embrace the prospect of welcoming Aelyx to Earth.  She was a strong willed and fun character to read and I very much admired her bravery and strength when it came to making hard decisions.  

The plot and world building were awesome.  All of the different descriptions were very detailed and gave me a clear picture of the things the characters were seeing and experienced.  We were able to learn more about this Earth which has, obviously, discovered the existence of aliens, as well as learn more about this new planet, L’eihr.  I'm excited to hopefully see more of it in the next book.  

Alienated is a book I adored and I'm sure many other people will, too!  It's a fun, humorous read that touched on some harder subjects and handled them very well.  I'm excited to see where this story goes in the future!  

Four Cards

  

Review: These Broken Stars

Title:  These Broken Stars
Series:  Starbound #1
Author(s):  Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
Published:  December 10, 2013 by Disney Hyperion 
Source:  Gifted

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

My Review:  This novel was something I didn't quite expect which isn't, in this case, a bad thing.  It was very easy to get  caught up in the excitement sweeping through the book community about this book and I was nervous that it would not live up to my impossibly high expectations.  These Broken Stars far exceeded those expectations and rose to the challenge of being over hyped and, truthfully, won.  This story was one full of heart-thumping romance, desperate survival, and mystery that had chills running down my spine on more than one occasion.

First of all, I adored the dual point of views this story was told in.  Being able to see both from Tarver and Lilac's eyes was essential to the plot of the story and their voices complimented each other wonderfully.  The fact that they came from completely different worlds was a major part of why they worked so well together.  They both had different skills and knowledge to aid in their survival on this seemingly deserted planet.  They saw this rural landscape in very different ways.  I also very much liked that they were not stereotypical products of their positions in society.  Lilac, though an heiress, had a depth I did not expect and was emotionally well rounded.  I respected her for her decisions and actions and felt for her and the conflicts she had to deal with.  She continued to grow and become more likable and personable as the story progressed and I really enjoyed her character arc throughout the novel.  

Tarver was, like Lilac, very well rounded.  He proved that he was not only a war hero but, in fact, had many different facets to him.  I enjoyed getting a peek at both his softer and more vulnerable side as well as the tough, stubborn soldier.  Not to mention that he was extremely swoon-worthy.  He was very compassionate and sweet and I loved to see the way Lilac slowly changed in his eyes as he himself grew and was willing to open up more.

Another worth while mention is the outstanding writing style.  The descriptions and the dialogue were all so believable and real.  I was completely transported to this new and unfamiliar world and I fell utterly in love.  The authors did a marvelous job at conveying the emotions of these two characters and creating the right tone at the necessary spots.  At times I was blushing and cheering and at others I was hiding under my covers because of the surprisingly creepy elements of this novel.  I also really enjoyed the interragations at the beginning of each chapter.  It made me nervous about the end at the same time as making me laugh out loud because Tarver is amazing and hilarious.   They were an interesting and unique element that helped this book stand out even more.  

I thoroughly enjoyed reading These Broken Stars.  It was a fantastic novel that had everything I look for in a book: characters that stole my heart, a plot that kept me at the edge of my seat, and a world that I would love to jump into and explore.  Though the next book in this series is a companion and we won't be solely following Tarver and Lilac, I know I will happily pick it up and give the new characters a chance.  After reading this book, I have little doubt that Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner will not disappoint us!

Five Cards