Top Ten 2015 Releases I Meant To Get To But Didn't
Showing posts with label Aimee Carter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aimee Carter. Show all posts
Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten 2015 Releases I Meant To Get To But Didn't
Book News: Queen | Walk the Edge | To the Stars: A Thatch Novel | Wicked Sexy Liar | Missing Dixie
There have been quite a few cover reveals in the bookish world lately. Here are a few that stand out to us.
Queen
The Blackcoat Rebellion #3
Author: Aimee Carter
Release Date: November 24th 2015
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
PAWN...CAPTIVE...QUEEN?
Kitty Doe is a Blackcoat rebel and a former captive with a deadly connection to the most powerful and dangerous man in the country, Prime Minister Daxton Hart. Forced to masquerade as Daxton's niece, Lila Hart, Kitty has helped the Blackcoats take back the prison known as Elsewhere. But Daxton has no intention of ceding his position of privilege—or letting Kitty expose his own masquerade. Not in these United States, where each person's rank means the difference between luxury and poverty, freedom and fear...and ultimately, between life and death.
To defeat the corrupt government, Kitty must expose Daxton's secret. Securing evidence will put others in jeopardy, including the boy she's loved forever and an ally she barely trusts. For months, Kitty's survival has hinged on playing a part. Now she must discover who she truly wants to be, and whether the new world she and the rebels are striving to create has a place in it for her after all.
Walk the Edge
Thunder Road #2
Author: Katie McGarry
Release Date: March 30th 2016
Publisher: Harlequin TEEN
Excerpt
There are certain common-sense rules all girls in town comprehend. It's not knowledge that has to be taught. In fact, sitting here on the top step to the entrance of my high school and watching this potential disaster unfold, I search my memory for the first person who mentioned I should stay clear of the Reign of Terror Motorcycle Club.
Because when it pertains to the threat that is the Reign of Terror MC, it's not learned, it's known. Like how an infant understands how to suck in a breath at the moment of birth or how a newborn foal wobbles to his legs. It's instinctual. It's ingrained. It's fact.
"Do you think his motorcycle will work this time?" Addison asks.
"Hope so," I breathe out, too terrified to speak at a normal level out of fear that we'll draw the scrutiny of the men wearing black leather vests circling the broken-down bike. Reign of Terror arches over the top of the black vest; in the middle is a half skull with far too much fire in and around it. It's ominous and I shiver.
It's edging toward nine in the evening, but the August sun hasn't completely set. Darkness, though, has claimed most of the sky. Temperatures during the afternoon hit over a hundred and I swear the concrete stairs and pillar absorbed every ounce of today's sunshine and are now transferring the heat onto my body.
Sweat rolls down my back and I shift to peel my thighs off the step. Why I thought it was a fantastic idea to wear a jean skirt, I have no idea.
I take that back. I do have an idea. Tonight is the first time my entire grade has been together in one room since the end of last year. My goal for the year may seem simple to some, but to me, it sometimes feels impossible. I'd like to be seen, to be known as something more than "freakishly smart Breanna Miller" at least once before I leave this town. I'd like to somehow find the courage to be on the outside who I am on the inside.
An annoying sixth sense informs me that I'm about to make a huge impression—on the evening news. Two friends on the verge of starting their senior year vanish without a trace. Because that's how motorcycle clubs would handle this—they'll kidnap us and then hide our bodies after they're finished with whatever ritual act they'll use us to perform.
One of the gang members stands from his crouched position at the motorcycle and the guy we attend school with inserts a key and holds on to the handlebar of the bike. As he twists it, I pray the motor will purr to life.
My heart leaps, then plummets past my toes and into the ground when the motorcycle cuts off with a sound similar to a gunshot. Addison's head falls forward, and I bite my lip to prevent the internal screaming from becoming external chaos.
Addison pulls her phone out of her purse and taps the screen. "I'm texting Reagan. If we go missing, I'm telling her to point the finger at Thomas Turner and his band of Merry Men."
Thomas Turner. He's the guy that swore loudly the moment his motorcycle's engine died again. Thomas is the name called on the first day of school by our teachers, but it's not the name he responds to. He goes by his "road name," Razor.
He glances over his shoulder straight at me and my mouth dries out. Holy hell, it's like he's aware I'm thinking of him.
"Oh my God," Addison reprimands. "Don't make eye contact. Do you want them to come over?"
I immediately focus on my sandals. As much as every girl knows to keep a safe distance from Thomas and his crew, we've all snuck a glimpse. Thomas makes it easy to cave to temptation with his golden blond hair and muscles from head to toe, and he owns this sexy brooding expression a few girls have written about in poems.
My cheeks burn and there's this heaviness as if Thomas is still looking. Through lowered lashes, I peek at him and my heart trips when our eyes meet. His eyes are blue. An icy blue. His stare causes me to be simultaneously curious and terrified. And I obviously have a death wish because I can't tear my gaze away…
Because when it pertains to the threat that is the Reign of Terror MC, it's not learned, it's known. Like how an infant understands how to suck in a breath at the moment of birth or how a newborn foal wobbles to his legs. It's instinctual. It's ingrained. It's fact.
"Do you think his motorcycle will work this time?" Addison asks.
"Hope so," I breathe out, too terrified to speak at a normal level out of fear that we'll draw the scrutiny of the men wearing black leather vests circling the broken-down bike. Reign of Terror arches over the top of the black vest; in the middle is a half skull with far too much fire in and around it. It's ominous and I shiver.
It's edging toward nine in the evening, but the August sun hasn't completely set. Darkness, though, has claimed most of the sky. Temperatures during the afternoon hit over a hundred and I swear the concrete stairs and pillar absorbed every ounce of today's sunshine and are now transferring the heat onto my body.
Sweat rolls down my back and I shift to peel my thighs off the step. Why I thought it was a fantastic idea to wear a jean skirt, I have no idea.
I take that back. I do have an idea. Tonight is the first time my entire grade has been together in one room since the end of last year. My goal for the year may seem simple to some, but to me, it sometimes feels impossible. I'd like to be seen, to be known as something more than "freakishly smart Breanna Miller" at least once before I leave this town. I'd like to somehow find the courage to be on the outside who I am on the inside.
An annoying sixth sense informs me that I'm about to make a huge impression—on the evening news. Two friends on the verge of starting their senior year vanish without a trace. Because that's how motorcycle clubs would handle this—they'll kidnap us and then hide our bodies after they're finished with whatever ritual act they'll use us to perform.
One of the gang members stands from his crouched position at the motorcycle and the guy we attend school with inserts a key and holds on to the handlebar of the bike. As he twists it, I pray the motor will purr to life.
My heart leaps, then plummets past my toes and into the ground when the motorcycle cuts off with a sound similar to a gunshot. Addison's head falls forward, and I bite my lip to prevent the internal screaming from becoming external chaos.
Addison pulls her phone out of her purse and taps the screen. "I'm texting Reagan. If we go missing, I'm telling her to point the finger at Thomas Turner and his band of Merry Men."
Thomas Turner. He's the guy that swore loudly the moment his motorcycle's engine died again. Thomas is the name called on the first day of school by our teachers, but it's not the name he responds to. He goes by his "road name," Razor.
He glances over his shoulder straight at me and my mouth dries out. Holy hell, it's like he's aware I'm thinking of him.
"Oh my God," Addison reprimands. "Don't make eye contact. Do you want them to come over?"
I immediately focus on my sandals. As much as every girl knows to keep a safe distance from Thomas and his crew, we've all snuck a glimpse. Thomas makes it easy to cave to temptation with his golden blond hair and muscles from head to toe, and he owns this sexy brooding expression a few girls have written about in poems.
My cheeks burn and there's this heaviness as if Thomas is still looking. Through lowered lashes, I peek at him and my heart trips when our eyes meet. His eyes are blue. An icy blue. His stare causes me to be simultaneously curious and terrified. And I obviously have a death wish because I can't tear my gaze away…
Book Review: Captive by Aimee Carter
The Blackcoat Rebellion #2
Author: Aimée Carter
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopian | Romance
Release Date: November 25th 2014
Review Source: Harlequin TEEN
For the past two months, Kitty Doe's life has been a lie. Forced to impersonate the Prime Minister's niece, her frustration grows as her trust in her fake fiancé cracks, her real boyfriend is forbidden and the Blackcoats keep her in the dark more than ever.
But in the midst of discovering that her role in the Hart family may not be as coincidental as she thought, she's accused of treason and is forced to face her greatest fear: Elsewhere. A prison where no one can escape.
As one shocking revelation leads to the next, Kitty learns the hard way that she can trust no one, not even the people she thought were on her side. With her back against the wall, Kitty wants to believe she'll do whatever it takes to support the rebellion she believes in—but is she prepared to pay the ultimate price?
Some moves are riskier than other. This is the truth. Sometimes when it comes to a sequel it is hard for you to fall in love with the second book. And sometimes you just do. When it came to Captive, I had some issues liking Kitty. I am not sure if this was intentional or she just became insecure after Pawn.
There are many things that happened to Kitty in the first book. Her identity is completely changed... literally. She becomes masked and is to impersonated the Prime Minister's niece, Lila Hart. When I say masked, I mean she looks like someone else, her face is transformed. Now in Captive, we learn why she was the one to turned into Lila.
Captive picks up right where Pawn left off (you must read Pawn to understand what is going on). It is as mysterious as the first. But if you picked up few clues from the first book, then you know where this book was heading. Nonetheless, it was surprising how the truth was revealed to Kitty. But the journey was somewhat maddening.
Kitty... oh dear Kitty. I wanted to slap you many many times! As strong as her character portrayed in Pawn, she was 180 degrees from this character in Captive. God, the constant questions. This girl can be such an interrogator! And. It. Was. Irritating! I wanted to scream at her to shut up and go with the plan. But no, her way or no way. She was so careless... ruined many many plans and she never learned.
To make up for her annoyance... comes in Knox. If you are a fan of Shatter Me series and if you LOVE Warner, like myself, then you would love Knox. Let's just leave it at that. Boy oh boy, he is charming. I love him so much.
Though I was annoyed at Kitty and her million questions, I did enjoy the book. Every time Knox would show up, I was swooning like a fool. A big secret was reveal and I cannot wait to read the next installment of The Blackcoat Rebellion series.
Book Review: Pawn by Aimée Carter
The Blackcoat Rebellion #1
Author: Aimée Carter
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopian | Romance
Release Date: November 26th 2013
Review Source: Harlequin TEEN
YOU CAN BE A VII IF YOU GIVE EVERYTHING.
For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.
If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.
There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed…and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.
We didn't see the last of Aimée Carter when the final novel in the Goddess Test series released back in February this year, which of course made me very happy. I loved Carter's Goddess Test series and knew anything else written by Carter was a must read. So when it was announce she would be publishing this new book called Pawn and that it was dystopian, I honestly think I saw a Rainbow pop up in the sky that day.
Pawn as I mention is a dystopian novel where the future of your life from age 17 and on depends on the number you are given after you are tested at that age. These numbers range from I - VII, so like any other number system you want to score the higher number in this society. You do not want to get stuck with a I - III, this would royally suck for you. If you get a IV or V then your OK and you'll do ok in life with those. Now if you are one of the lucky few that actually scores a VI or VII then you are made for life. Now VII is pretty hard to obtain if you are not part of the Prime Minister's family. So now you have an understanding of the system in place in this novel. So when Kitty Doe gets a III, her life turns upside down and she never in a million years expected it to be that low. She had a feeling it would be lower than her boyfriend's because she knew she never learned to read but she was smart. So at that point the only thing to do in life is survive and leave everyone you love behind so they can live a better life with their higher numbers.
So when Kitty decides to join her friend in a underground sex trade club, she never expects who will be the first person to buy her. Little does she know they didn't buy her for sex, so her virginity is saved. But when Kitty wakes up after remembering she had been drugged and put to sleep, she finds herself with the opportunity of a lifetime, forced but opportunity nonetheless. She has been offered a VII. This would mean everything including being able to be with Benyi. Ha! Did I tell you what that big catch is though? To get that VII, Kitty will give up being herself, she has been Masked. Meaning she now looks like someone else completely from head to toe. That VII belongs really to who Kitty is now impersonating and that would be the Prime Minister's niece Lila. See Lila has been killed by her own family and they needed her replacement so the society doesn't figure out she has been murdered. Kitty now will have to learn to be Lila, and Lila comes with two faces and I'm not taking about Killy's masked one.
Kitty will be tested and will have to decided for herself as Kitty if she will do what is expected from her as Lila on both sides, or will she risk it and lose the VII she has been given and die then rather live with what she was forced to become. Pawn will have you turning the pages to see how far this family will go and will trusting the III work out for them to be the VII everyone knows.
Pawn gave me thrills, chills and many surprises. The romance was just enough to get my heart racing. You will be hooked with this new take in Dystopian YA. Can't wait to find out what happens next in the Blackcoat Rebellion series.
And don't forget to add to Goodreads the next book in The Blackcoat Rebellion:
Book Review: The Goddess Test
Goddess test #1
Author: Aimee Carter
Pages: 304 pgs
Reading Level: YA
Published: April 26th 2011
Review Source: NetGalley - HarlequinTeen
Available: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Borders
Summary: (from goodreads) It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.
Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.
Let's begin with the cover and title. Now that I have finished reading the book, the people behind picking the title and cover art, hit the nail on the head. They are the perfect representation of the book. I wouldn't change anything about both. Now on with my thoughts about what is contained within these pages. Aimee will now go down in my list of favorite authors I have read, what a magnificent beginning to a series. Usually the 1st books in series are a little slow paced or they just don't stick out. Well not The Goddess Test, from page one to the last word you read, it's intense and magical. Many books out there deal in some way shape or form with Greek mythology, but Aimee bring you a fresh and exciting take on the mythology. The creativeness she has come up with featuring the Olympians is incredible. Now don't think Aimee didn't include the real world, she brought both together to give us fantasy, romance and mystery. The one thing I loved about this book is the ending, I never expected. It's the kind of ending that leaves you with your mouth hanging open. The alone deserve a 10.
The story begins with Kate, she has been taking care of her sick mother for a few years now. She has had to quit school and pretty much everything else. Her mother Diana ask to move back to her childhood home for her last days. So they relocate and Kate even decides to try and start her senior year of High School. Kate meets the students and one of them is Ava. Ava is not who you think she is to Kate, she tricks her into something and for that pays a price for it. Kate is then approached by a young man and make a offer to save Ava. In turn if she accepts the offer so he can save Ava, she must agree to live with him 6 months of the year. Kate doesn't accept thinking its some kind of a joke. Then Ava dies again on the commence of Winter Solstice. Kate panics and go looking for Henry, he tells her he can't bring Ava back but he can prolong her mother's passing. Kate accepts, anything to spend more time with her mother. Now Kate doesn't now who the crazy one is, Henry for claiming he is Hades, God of the Underworld or her for believing him and what she has seen with her eyes. What will happen for those 6 months?
I strongly recommend to anyone who hasn't read The Goddess Test yet, to go out and purchase it immediately. It is one of my top reads for 2011. I can't wait till Goddess Interrupted comes out next year .
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