Book Review: The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

The Unwanteds
Unwanteds #1
Author: Lisa McMann
Reading Level: Middle Grade
Genre: Science Fiction/Dystopian
Released: August 30th 2011
Review Source: Purchased

Every year in Quill, thirteen-year-olds are sorted into categories: the strong, intelligent Wanteds go to university, and the artistic Unwanteds are sent to their deaths.

Thirteen-year-old Alex tries his hardest to be stoic when his fate is announced as Unwanted, even while leaving behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted. Upon arrival at the destination where he expected to be eliminated, however, Alex discovers a stunning secret— behind the mirage of the "death farm" there is instead a place called Artime.

In Artime, each child is taught to cultivate their creative abilities and learn how to use them magically, weaving spells through paintbrushes and musical instruments. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it's a wondrous transformation.

But it's a rare, unique occurrence for twins to be separated between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron's bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artime that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate, magical battle.

So how many moms out there had students with summer reading assignments? Well one option for my middle schooler was to choose your favorite book and write a review for others. Knowing that her mom and big brother loves books and writing reviews, I believe she picked the best assignment on the list! - Deitre

I started off reading Junie B. Jones and The Magic Tree House. Then I began to drift away from that type of genre. I knew I wanted to read something more action filled. Later on it felt like I was forcing myself to read books that really weren't my cup of tea. Then one day while at the book store I stumbled upon a book that instantly pulled me in. It was called The Unwanteds. I began to read a few pages and was hooked. I didn't buy the book that day. However, I enjoyed it so much I downloaded the sample to my iPod. Eventually, my mom got me the book. A bookish friend of hers had gotten it signed by the author just for me. I couldn't stop reading it. It was the first time I'd ever really been hooked to a book.

This is an action packed book that leaves you in suspense after each chapter. In this story, children caught being creative in any way were immediately sentenced to death. By the day of the "Purge" the thirteen year olds were split into groups of the Wanteds, Necessaries, and the Unwanteds.

A set of identical twin brothers Aaron (wanted) and Alex (unwanted) knew that that would be the last day they'd ever see each other or so they thought. It is said that the wanteds are sent to learn and become leaders and the unwanteds are sent to a death farm to die. Do the twins ever reunite?
In my opinion, the author Lisa McMann has done an exquisite job when it comes down to detail and being able to paint a picture in your head of whats happening in the story. This book by far is one of my absolute favorites. - Princess's Review

Joshua's review

So what did your students have to read over the summer? We would love for you to share.

Blog Tour: My Unexpected Forever | Heidi McLaughlin | Review

Welcome to our stop on the My Unexpected Forever blog tour for the USA Today bestselling Heidi McLaughlin. This tour is hosted by Good Choice Reading Blog Tours.

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My Unexpected Forever
Beaumont #2
Author: Heidi McLaughlin
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 2nd 2013
Review Source: Author

I expected a life of music.
I expected to raise my son.
It took one look to make everything change.
I never expected happiness.

I never expected to find her.
I never expected to feel desire.
I never expected I’d be a family man.
I never expected to be loved.
I never expected to fall in love.

They say you should expect the unexpected, I didn’t realize my unexpected would be the forever kind.

I love being back in Beaumont again and revisiting with some of the familiar characters I fell (drooled) for in Forever My Girl. This time I was prepared because I knew that once I began reading this book there was no putting it down until the end. Hence the 4am bedtime. This book and series fall under the best book hangovers ever. It's not your typical contemporary that boy meets girl and end with a simple happy ever after. These characters are real and deal with real issues everyone might face in their lives or worse. So it's hard to believe in happy ever after when so deep in troubles. Doesn't mean it doesn't exist it just takes hard work and effort to find it and capture it to make it yours. So if you are one to love a fantastic story where shit (excuse my french) doesn't fall into place magically then this is the book and definitely the series for you. You can't help but be swept away in this non-typical love story!

In this chapter of the series, the story is dedicated to Harrison that we met towards the end of Forever My Girl. He is the drummer in the band with Liam (hubba hubba). Harrison decided to move to Beaumont just like Liam because he felt that he could provide his son with a better life there. Maybe, just maybe he could have been influence by a recently widowed Katelyn and her twin daughters to want to stay also. To be witness to the chemistry that Harrison and Katelyn were denying one another was torture at times. You sat there on the sidelines wanting to push them together as you cheered them along. This is the part that I mentioned is not your typical love story. It didn't just happen between these two characters. It was work and sacrifice and coming to terms with themselves and their demons and some old skeletons in the closet. So when they did have a moment here or there be it a look, touch or more, it was like being stranded in a desert and having no water then out of the blue you find this oasis with water and nothing else matters in the world at that exact moment. It was that rewarding to see their relationship build romantically but also with each others children.

Heidi McLaughlin didn't just focus on Harrison and Katleyn though, she incorporated Liam and Josie and their son which are just as pivotal to this story as Katelyn and Harrison kids too. We were also treated again to the getting dual POVs between Harrison and Katelyn so we were able to see inside their minds and know what exactly they were feeling. That is what I called fantastic for reading!!!!

Recommend HIGHLY to everyone that is of age to read New Adult since it does contains detailed sexual situations and has some strong language. If my reflection captures your interest in picking up this book and you have not read the previous books, I also highly recommend you start with Forever My Girl so you can follow along the story and not be confused or questions certain scenes in My Unexpected Forever. It's shouldn't be read as a stand alone or picked up from second book. You won't regret beginning from the beginning with Liam and Josie's story. It's a Rockstar kind of Romance!!!

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About the Author

Heidi is the author of USA Today, Kobo, Digital Book World, Amazon and Barnes & Noble Bestselling novel, Forever My Girl

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell and two Parakeets.

During the day Heidi is behind a desk talking about Land Use. At night, she’s writing one of the many stories planned for release or sitting court-side during either daughter’s basketball games.

   

WEBSITE

Cover Reveals: World After | Chasing Before | White Hot Kiss | Hydraulic Level Five

There have been quite a few cover reveals in the bookish world lately. Here are a few that stand out.

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World After

Penryn & the End of Days #2

Author: Susan Ee 

Release Date: Novmber 19th 2013

Publisher: Skyscape
Read Chapter Excerpt

In this sequel to the bestselling fantasy thriller, Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what's left of the modern world. When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans, where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

THIS SEQUEL I HAVE BEEN DYING FOR! Angelfall is one of my top faves reads evah!  I constantly pimp it out t o everyone. Can't wait to read what happen next! 

Chasing Before

The Memory Chronicles #2

Author: Lenore Appelhans

Release Date: August 26th 2014

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Felicia and Neil have left Level 2 behind, but another level stands between them and Heaven: Level 3. While the purpose of Level 2 is to relive your time on Earth and make peace with your memories, the objective of Level 3 is to completely detach from life and prepare for your divine vocation.

During Felicia and Neil's training period, a series of explosions destroy the portals out of Level 3. Tension is high, and casualties are mounting. Though Neil wants to become either a Muse or a Healer to help, Felicia is drawn to the Seraphim Guard. A rift forms between the pair, one that grows wider when Felicia receives memories of her life that occur after her supposed death. The memories cast doubt on the people she loves the most, but Felicia can't stop her curiosity. She has to know the truth about her life before she moves on--if she can manage to evade old enemies long enough to find a way out of Level 3.

White Hot Kiss

The Dark Elements #1

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Release Date: March 2014

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

One kiss could be the last

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever.

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul.

But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

Hydraulic Level Five

Author: Sarah Latchaw

Release Date: September 3rd 2013

Publisher: Omnific Publishing

How does a woman get over her one great love? With whitewater rafting, bluegrass, and a touch of revenge…

Kaye is an extreme sports addict with a kind heart and an axe to grind with her childhood sweetheart and ex-husband, renowned writer Samuel Caulfield Cabral. While Samuel enjoys a celebrity life in New York, Kaye remains in their hometown of Lyons, Colorado, running her PR agency and chatting daily with Samuel's family, the beloved Cabrals—first-generation Mexican-Americans who have embraced Kaye as their own.

But when Samuel returns home for his sister's wedding with a new love interest, stunning editor Caroline Ortega, the gloves are stripped off. Kaye is determined to unearth the reasons behind the death of their marriage and why two people who lived to love each other were driven apart, all leading to startling revelations about Samuel, about life...and about herself.

We will be sharing our review as Hydraulic Level Five on September 5th as part of the blog tour.  

Book Blast: Colour Wielders by Dawna Raver | Giveaway | Excerpt

Behind the Faerying Mysts, hidden from Mortal eyes, is a land where gods and creatures of myth and legend dwell. And in the Mortal Realm, their Princess is hidden away.

Quinn Sinclair lives an ordinary life with her less-than-loving mother in Conifer, Colorado, clueless of her true nature. On the night of her birthday, a staggering betrayal sends her life spinning out-of-control. As she struggles to pick up the pieces, a vision of a man with haunting tourmaline-blue eyes begs her for help, and she is transported into a Magykal battle-forever changing her life.

Arik Morgaine-Demigod bad boy and outcast of the Magykal Realm-tried to avoid contact with Princess Quinn for eighteen years, not wanting to make good on an old threat. But the fates have other plans. Arik can no longer deny his growing desire for Quinn, or the need to protect her from those wanting to control her burgeoning powers. Can the two of them come together and save the Magykal Realm from being destroyed by the Darkest of Magyks?

New Adult. Recommended for 18 and above. Mature themes, sexual situations, and profanity.

Chapter One
Virgin Territory

Gentle fingertips grazed the edge of her jaw, trailing down her neck to her collarbone. His citrine gaze stared deeply into her eyes, and her body heated at his tender touch.

“You’re okay, yeah?” Thaene asked, his voice hoarse from their lovemaking.

Am I okay? She hardly knew. Though she had nothing to compare it to, this feeling was more than giving her virginity to him. Quinn felt like something bigger inside had stirred to life, wanting to escape.

“You know I love you. I’m sorry if it hurt.” He kissed her again, his lips caressing hers, as if he could take the ache away.

“Say something, Quinn. Please.”

“I love you, Thaene.” She pressed herself into him, passionately returning his affection. As their kiss continued, Quinn wondered if he wanted more. She also wondered if she had more to give.

“I want us together, always. Do you want that, Quinn?” Thaene’s eyes danced with a mixture of emotions—love, passion, possessiveness, and something else she couldn’t name.

“We can have forever. You want that, don’t you?” Thaene asked.

“Yes,” Quinn answered breathlessly, before realizing what she’d agreed to. She smiled, finding his need for her exciting.

“Forever is a long time. But I could do it with you.”

Thaene smiled back. Happiness lit his face. He looked like he’d just won a major prize—he looked triumphant.

“Being with you on your twenty-second birthday was very special to me. You’ve given me such a precious gift.”

“I love you. I can’t imagine my first time with anyone else.”

Besides, my gift of Sight showed you to me, over and over. How could I not give myself to you?

Her gift had shown her something else as well. Since she didn’t understand it, Quinn ignored it. She’d followed her heart where Thaene was concerned. Not even her mother’s dislike—or in spite of it— changed her mind. Following your heart always led you down the right path.

Thaene lightly brushed her hair from her face, then he rested his forehead on hers.

“There’s something else I’d like you to give me. Will you do that? Give me what I desire the most?”

The longing in his voice made Quinn squirm underneath him. Right now, she’d give him anything.

“It’s the most precious gift of all. One I’ll cherish forever.”

Oh my God. He wants to marry me.

“Yes,” Quinn said, drawing in a breath. “I’ll give you anything.”

“Good.” Thaene nuzzled her neck. “I want you to show me your Magyk.”

“What?” Quinn blinked at him, wondering if she’d heard him right.

“If you want us to have forever, you must show me your Magyk.”

Buy it...

Amazon † BN 

Want a Review copy? Colour Wielders is live at Story Cartel, available for download for review. Also each review is entered for a chance at 3 $10 Amazon Gift Certificates. :)

Story Cartel - CLICK HERE.

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Dawna Raver is an author of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Colour Wielders, Book One, is her debut novel. When she's not spending time in her fantasy world, Dawna loves football, reading, and pretending she's a top chef in the kitchen. Oh, and fawning over her dogs and husband, sometimes in that order.

Contact me at:

https://www.facebook.com/DawnaRaver

https://twitter.com/DawnaRaver

https://dawnaraver.com

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17261634-colour-wielders

Cover Reveal: Liar, Liar by Dawn Pendleton | Giveaway

Hazel is a freshman at Coastal Carolina and looking forward to making new friends. When she meets Roman, she’s head over heels for him. There’s one problem, though: he’s still hung up on Hazel’s roommate, Cheyanne. But Cheyanne has a secret, one that has the potential to ruin her life in college. When Hazel learns the secret, she’s determined to use it against Cheyanne to win over Roman. She never imagines her plan could backfire, leaving her as a pariah among her new circle of friends.

The BFF series follows the lives of new adults, Hazel, Miranda, Cheyanne, Destiny, Audric, Nolan, Andre, and Roman. Follow their stories as the first season of novellas are released once a week from September to March.

Release date: September 17, 2013

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Blog Tour: Origin | Jennifer L. Armentrout | Review

Welcome to our stop on the Origin blog tour for Jennifer L. Armentrout. Origin is fourth book in the Lux series written by JLA. Full blog tour schedule HERE.

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Origin
Lux Series #4
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Reading Level: YA
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Aliens
Released: August 27th 2013
Review Source: Entangled Publishing

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on?

And will they even be together?

 JLA once again brings her "A" game. She didn't sugar coat anything which brought pure adrenaline to this fourth novel in the Lux series. To say it started at full speed, is insulting the story, it was full speed and then some. Ya know when Daemon starts to curse, shizz just got real. Origin is told in both Katy and Daemon POV and that was a definite treat from JLA.

Origin begins with Katy waking up in some unrecognizable location. She is in full panic but hides it as much as she can. Katy realizes she has onyx strapped to her wrist and the room is set to douse her if she acts up. The people that have captured her inform her she has no where to run because that room has ways of debilitating her and cause excruciating pain. Once she is released of the binds she tries to escape but she isn't going anywhere. Exactly what they say happens, actually does happen and she is in a world of pain. They confess she is bait and meant for a larger catch that lights up like a glow worm. They want Daemon, nothing less. Cue Daemon and his countdown to how it has been since he last saw his Katy and professed he would come find her (which broke my heart into a million pieces). The Luxen community have a different plan then Daemon and fight with him over the "human". When I say fight, I mean full Luxen mode head on battle because Daemon will complete his promise to Katy. Come on that's his kitten, they should know better than get in his way. Getting banished is the least of Daemon's worries. Right now all he knows is Katy.

Daedalus will break Katy is they have to. She is considered an enemy and no longer treated as human. Events will transpire and leave Katy and Daemon fighting for their lives over and over again. Question is are they fighting together? The secrets start to come to light and we discover something Daedalus is keeping secret. It's going to shock you like electricity! Let just say Origin is more than just the book's title.

Ha! So I began writing the review while reading Origin and every so often I would reflected back to my review. So then I kept reading and didn't come back to it knowing I would just finish it when done reading the book. Well what I just read called for me to come back to this review and say "Holy Daemon Babies", I fracking love JLA." What I just read I can't disclose because a] major spoiler, B] it will be all worth the wait to reach this point in the book not knowing early and c] who doesn't like a good tease anyways? Right! I'm starting to believe Jennifer is something else, like she isn't even from this planet. Maybe she is Superman long lost sister and her super power is writing books because its just not natural how how fantastic ALL her books are.

I've reached the end of this review but unlike Origin that leaves you with another "no she didn't just end the book like that" cliffhanger again just like Opal (Lux #3) did. I really can't explain any more detailed how crazy good Origin is. We witness with our eyes Katy grow up and become a bad ass heroine. Then with Daemon we know how he acts and reacts but not like in Origin, Daemon shows us this side of him that is truly amazing just how strong his love for Katy is. He literally will stop at nothing for Katy! I also have enjoyed how the series has matured with its characters every installment. The writing continues to be awesome and so relatable to me on an everyday level. Yes its Aliens but the words JLA uses make them more human to us. E.T. never cracked jokes but Daemon does.

What next JLA? I can't wait, Bring it on? We are (I hope) ready for it! 

p.s. JLA if you are reading this part, thank you for writing such a heartfelt dedication at the beginning. She is smiling down laughing along with you while you share these characters with us. Thank you! 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

  
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