Top Bookish News of The Past Week

Here are all the top bookish stories, pictures, videos, and blog posts I found this past week. All of the titles are linked up to their respective articles/blog posts. Click away!

ARTICLES

1. Wanted: Writer to practice craft in Hemingway's house How cool would it be if you were an aspiring writer and you were offered to write in one of the best (of all time) writer's house? I'm a Hemingway fan and I found this very interesting.
2. Amazon Buys Goodreads Seriously?! Hmmm...I wonder what this will mean for us users!?

BLOG POSTS

1. Taken: Chapter 1 Reveal and Download  I have been patiently, okay not so patiently, waiting for Taken by: Erin Bowman to be released. Luckily, there was a week long reveal of the first eight chapters of this book! This post has the first chapter and the links to the other seven. Hopefully these will tide us over for a couple more weeks.
2. The Case of the No-DNFer In this post written over at Reading the Best of the Best, Kailia talks about her feelings on DNFing a review book. It is a very interesting topic that I could easily relate to, can you? I just started a review book that I am having a hard time enjoying. I don't know why but I'm just not a fan, but I can't seem to DNF it because I got it for review. I don't know what to do. Thoughts?
3. How did you do that? Blogger Tips and Tricks #8 Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer always has some good tips. This week she talks about follow options for your blog. I think it is worth taking a look at, especially with all the rumors going around that GFC is getting cancelled. I know Google reader is getting shut down but I still can't find an actual up to date article that says GFC is also going bye bye. If you know of any feel free to share!

PICTURE

TRUE STORY

Blog Tour: Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter by: Nikki Jefford (Review and Giveaway)

Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter: Transfusion by: Nikki Jefford (2012)

242 pages
Genre: YA Paranormal

Purchase: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

Synopsis

If there is one thing eighteen-year-old Aurora Sky wants, it’s to get off the iceberg she calls home. Being kissed before she graduates wouldn’t hurt either.

Then a near-fatal car wreck changes everything. Government agents step in and save Aurora’s life in exchange for her services as a vampire hunter. In Alaska. Basically she’s a glorified chew toy. All thanks to her rare blood type, which sends a vampire into temporary paralysis right before she has to finish the job… by hand.

Now Aurora’s only friends are groupies of the undead and the only boy she can think about may very well be a vampire. And if he’s a vampire,will she be forced to kill him?

My Review

I really enjoyed this book. I am a huge fan of novels about vampires and seeing what new characteristics the author gives them. Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter didn't let me down when it came to unique vampires. This is dark novel that takes a whole new spin on high school senioritis.

The Vampires: I enjoyed the new twist on vampires and I really think that the link between vampires and different diseases/viruses was very interesting. Although really creepy, I love how Aurora has to kill vampires. They have to bite her so she can take them down. In the end, It all comes down to the blood. 

Setting: This book takes place in Alaska! I was super excited to have a brand new setting that I haven't come across before. I loved it!

Aurora: I really do love Aurora. She is a complex character that goes through a lot in the span of a short book. She has great personality quarks and I felt her come alive through the pages. My other favorite thing about Aurora was getting to see her relationship with Dante, my favorite male in this book, who just so happens to be her vampire hunter mentor. They work really well together and I love how they don't just go around stabbing vampires with stakes, it is more complex than that. On the other hand, I'm not a big fan of Fane, Aurora's love interest. I don't know why but I just wasn't really feeling him as a character, he did get better, but their relationship just felt awkward at times. I'm not sure how else to explain it so I guess you will just have to read for yourself to find out.

Plot: This plot was exciting, fun, and although sometimes predictable still entertaining, and it had a decent shock value. The biggest aspect of the book that I love is that it was new and fresh. At times I felt like the plot could have been slightly better executed. Although it was well written and I enjoyed it, there was still something missing. I just can't seem to put my finger on it.

I say Read it. If you like vampire novels then you should give it a chance. It has some very intense scenes, the setting is awesome, Aurora is cool, and the story was new. I'm intrigued enough that I will be reading the second book. That right there should count for something.

3.5/5 Rating  

Author

Nikki Jefford is a third generation Alaskan who loves fictional bad boys and heroines who kick butt. She is the author of the Spellbound Trilogy and upcoming Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter series. Nikki married Sebastien, the love of her life, while working as a teaching assistant in France. They now reside in the not-so-tropical San Juan Islands, 70 miles northeast of Forks, Washington.

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow This Blog Tour

** Thank you Xpresso Book Tours and author Nikki Jefford for giving me the chance to read and review this novel! Thanks for the free copy. It in no way impacted my honest review.  

Library Loot #9

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.

I LOVE my haul this week! I got really lucky. Once again I may have overdone it at the library, but I just couldn't help myself. My reading list gets longer and longer each passing second. I need to schedule a read all day Sunday or something. 

My Library Loot

  

Top Ten Tuesday #6: Books I Recommend The Most

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly event hosted over at The Broke and the Bookish. It was hard to narrow this list down to ten. 

I am always giving people reading recommendations and it seriously depends on what kind of books they like to read. Just so you know... I am not including Harry Potter or The Hunger Games in this list, I used to recommend those a lot, but not as much anymore because everyone has read them. Here are the top ten books I recommend the most! (It was seriously hard to pick only 10. I recommend so many books that I'm not ever sure which ones I recommend the most.)

1. I constantly tell people to read this book. I love that it has both vampires and witches. Did I mention that this book rocks?

2. I badgered my friend relentlessly until she finally read this book. That probably tells you a little bit about how often I recommend Divergent. If you haven't read this yet then I'm not sure what to tell you.

3. I just discovered this wonderful book at the end of 2012 and I loved it! Seriously, read it.

4. I will always be a fan of this series. Even though this is an older series I'm still an active advocate.

5. My favorite of Rick Riordan series to date. Are you a fan of Greek mythology and Roman mythology? If you answered yes then you obviously need to read these.

6. A beautifully written book surrounding a suicide pact among teenagers. A lot of courtroom action in this one. Don't forget your tissues.

7.  Seriously if you haven't read this book yet you should. That is all I have to say about that.

8. This is by far one of my most favorite Stephen King novels. It blew my mind... I won't even talk about the ending. 

9. If you are ever looking for a hilarious series to start reading that has a great female lead and two sexy men then the Stephanie Plum series if for you my friend.

10. A great mystery that is wonderfully written. A must read. Have tissues nearby.

Because it is just too hard to have only 10... 

Honorable Mentions: 

- Graceling by: Kristin Cashore 

- Life of Pi by: Yann Martel 

- Blood Oath by: Christopher Farnsworth 

- Delirium by: Lauren Oliver 

- Many of the classics.

Review: Romancing the Seas by: Cait O'Sullivan

Romancing the Seas by: Cait O'Sullivan
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Goodreads Summary: Sous-chef Pippa Renshaw thinks a change of scene will mend her bruised heart, so she swaps her job in a prestigious London restaurant to head-chef on a cruise ship sailing around New Zealand. A great plan until she meets her new CEO, the delectable Jonathon Eagleton, and discovers she has to share a suite with him.

Even though sparks fly whenever they are together, Jonathon steadfastly keeps her at arm's length, which suits Pippa just fine because she's still getting over the betrayal of the last time she had a relationship with the boss.

The situation is starting to feel like solitary confinement until a thunderstorm traps them in a tramper's hut while hiking. Suddenly a different kind of storm unleashes inside the hut.

But will they be able to go back to their previous status now the line has been crossed?

My Review

This was a very cute romance novel and a quick read. I was a little nervous at first because the first couple chapters didn't do a whole lot for me, too much describing of how the two main characters look. Then as I got more into Romancing the Seas it got better with each page. I would categorize this romance novel as semi steamy with some light comedy, it had a good mix of both.

As readers we get to see both the male lead Johnathon's point of view and the female lead Pippa's point of view. This was refreshing. I love when romance novels give us both view points. It helps us understand what is going on in both of their heads and gives us more insight into why they do what they do. This was a nice change in pace since there is always frustrating drama that comes along in a romance novel.

Pippa was a great character. She was sassy, strong, and cute. Plus she was a chef, and I loved her passion for her work. I don't read a lot of books with chefs in them and this was a nice change. Johnathon was sexy and strong and dumb, but he makes up for it. Although not always perfectly described, their chemistry was steamy.

The setting of a cruise ship in New Zeleand was wonderful. When the characters get stuck over night in a cabin together it was intense. I loved that scene. It was hot and full of humor. O'Sullivan wrote that scene wonderfully.

The only main thing that bothered me with this book, and why I didn't give it a higher rating, was that I felt like the story was too rushed. I understand with it taking place on a cruise that it couldn't last forever, but there could have been a change over with another cruise or something of the sort. I just wish it would have been slightly longer so we could have gone a little more in depth with the characters and their relationship. Also, I wanted more time with some of the minor characters. They were important to the story in their own way, but I felt like we didn't see enough of them.

Overall Romancing the Seas is a delightful read, perfect for a rainy day or a day at the beach. If you are looking for a romance novel with the right mix of funny and steamy this would be a good fit. 

**I received this book for free from the author. It in no way hindered my honest review. Thanks Cait!

Rating 3.5/5  Buy Romancing the Seas

Top Bookish News of The Past Week

Here are all the interesting bookish stories, pictures, videos, and blog posts I found this past week. All of the titles are linked up to their respective articles/blog posts. Click away!

ARTICLES

1. Stephen and Tabitha King pledge $3 million to Bangor Public Library in Maine If I had the money I would help out some libraries as well. Too bad I don't. :( On the bright side, it is really awesome what they are doing and I applaud them.
2. This is a new website that Buckling Bookshelves introduced me to... Recaptains: Saving Series One Book at a Time. A couple of weeks ago I wrote a blog post Previously On...TV Shows Get Recaps. Why Not Books? discussing my horrible memory when it comes to picking up where a series or trilogy left off. I can never remember what happened in the previous books and that frustrates me more than anything. This new website recaps those pesky books! Awesome right?

BLOG POSTS

1. Re-reading: Yea or Nay? I am always re-reading books when I can, but as of late it seems like I never have the time. Do you like to re-read books? Either way you should check out this fun and interesting discussion post.
2. Are you loyal to only one genre? Ever get burned out? I love reading a lot of different genres, but on occasion I have stuck to one for too long and I always seem to regret it. What about you? Head over to the Caffeinated Book Reviewer and join in on the discussion.

PHOTO

I don't know where my husband finds these photos but I love them!

One day I will have one of these...

VIDEO
A new Despicable Me 2 trailer is out! I know this isn't book related, but I have to share! Minion Love.

Posts Riddled with Errors...Does it bother you? - My Editing Method

First, the main point of this post is to simply tell you how I edit my posts in case you were looking for some tips. Also, I want to hear what you do before making a post go live. This post is just my opinion. I know we don't get paid to write reviews and run our blog and I understand that, but we also take pride in our work... so let's talk editing blog posts.

At what point do you get annoyed with errors in blog posts? I'm not just saying blog posts either, what about Facebook statuses or tweets on Twitter? If someone occasionally has a typo or error, that doesn't bother me, but when it happens just about every time they post something... all I do is let out a huge sigh. It can be so frustrating!

Maybe I care too much because I'm a wannabe book editor, but I think having error free blog posts is important to your credibility. I know that I still have some minor errors in my blog posts, no one can be perfect. I mean I had a pretty big error once when I switched two authors' last names in a list, how embarrassing!  But does it ever bother you when you read a blog post or status update and it is filled with errors? It won't necessarily keep me from reading that blog but it can give me a bad impression.

I am not perfect and it is hard to catch every single error, and I am not suggesting that anyone is perfect,  I have however come up with a pretty good system of editing my blog posts before I publish them. This system has helped me catch many little errors (and sometimes big embarrassing errors) before making my post live. I figured I would share it with you just in case you need some editing ideas. Here is what I do:

Editing/Proofreading My Blog Posts

1. Type it up in a word document first
• The few times I didn't type a post up in a word document first I found the most mistakes in them later.
2. Read it out loud
• I know you have probably all heard of this advice before and I know I always push this in my editing advice posts, but it never hurts to repeat it.
3. Have my husband read it (obviously you can have anyone read it)
• One time when my husband was reading a post before I made it live, he pointed out that it was confusing and hard to follow. Once I reread that paragraph I realized he was right. See, husbands can be very helpful for some things. ;)
4. Read over it in preview mode before making your post live
• For some reason seeing the post how it would actually look like once published helps me catch small mistakes I missed earlier. I don't know why but it just does.
5.  Use Spell Check
• You would think this was obvious, and a lot of you probably do this already, but I have forgotten to use spell check on occasion and realized that was a mistake. I totally missed fixing a word that I had quickly typed and it was totally misspelled  Although it doesn't catch everything it is totally worth using.

What do you do editing wise before publishing a post? I can always use some more helpful tips!

Review: Slated by: Teri Terry

Slated by: Teri Terry (Slated #1)

Publisher: Orchard Books

448 pages

Genre: YA/Dystopian

Goodreads Summary: Kyla’s memory has been erased,
her personality wiped blank,
her memories lost forever.
She’s been Slated.
The government claims she was a terrorist, and that they are giving her a second chance - as long as she plays by their rules. But echoes of the past whisper in Kyla’s mind. Someone is lying to her, and nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust in her search for the truth?

My Review

I’ve been thinking it over…how to start this review, and nothing seemed to pop out at me. No, I haven’t been slated recently, although sometimes it feels like I’ve lost my memory. So I’m going to keep it simple. This book was a hit with me and it lived up to its synopsis. I thought it was a fresh new read and it turned out to be a pretty good page turner. Read it! 

I want to briefly discuss the dystopian aspect of the book. We were given a fair amount of answers to how the society came to slate people (erase their memory completely), but it takes a while to come about and the idea hasn’t been fully given to us, but I’m sure we will have more background information coming so I was okay with it. I did find it odd that they only slated children who have broken the law to give them a second chance at life. How many children are actually criminals and why are the adults not getting this second chance? I think the book mentioned that it is easier to slate kids because of their age and easier for them to relearn things, but it still was kind of off-putting. Then again teenagers can be pretty rebellious. ;) The whole idea of being slated is creepy on its own, let alone that the government seems to be everywhere and know everything... did I mention that the kids who are slated have to wear a bracelet that is connected to their feelings/brain? If they become a 'threat' by showing certain emotions they are automatically punished. This gave me the chills. This whole book gives me the chills and that is one of the biggest reasons why you should read this book. The writing/plot is that good. Okay that wasn't so brief...moving on.

For the most part I really loved Kyla. She was an interesting main character, but my favorite part was her relationship with her “mother,” or at least who her mom is after she was slated. We have no idea who Kyla was before she was slated…for the most part. But you will have to read Slated to find out more about that. Anyway back on topic, I think her relationship with her mother is interesting, intense, and full of questions. There is more to it than what meets the eye. I think this relationship will play an even bigger role in the upcoming books, at least I hope so. Kyla and her "sister's' relationship was also something to write home about, it was perfectly done. On the other hand, her relationship with Ben, another teenager that has been slated and goes to her school, was cute, but didn’t do a whole lot for me, I don’t know why but I felt like some chemistry was missing.

Another really great and interesting aspect of this book is getting to watch how Kyla deals with being slated. It is funny to see Kyla, a teenager, not know how to get out of a car or other simple things that she should know how to do but doesn’t since her memory has been erased.

There are a few shocking plot twists that came out of nowhere, which as you probably know by now I love, but one was pretty obvious. This was slightly disappointed, but since it was executed well it didn't really bother me. The ending was good, but it certainly has me waiting impatiently for the next one. Luckily I won’t have wait long.

In the end, I recommend this book to those looking for a new dystopian novel with some laughs, intriguing relationships, and some intense scenes that will leave you wanting more.

RATING 4/5  Buy Slated

Waiting on Wednesday #4: The Disappearing Girl by: Heather Topham Wood

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I'm waiting on...

The Disappearing Girl by: Heather Topham Wood

Release Day: May 2013

Goodreads Summary: Last year, Kayla’s world imploded. Her beloved father died, leaving her alone with a narcissistic mother who is quick to criticize her daughter’s appearance. During her winter break from college, Kayla’s dangerous obsession with losing weight begins.

Kayla feels like her world changes for the better overnight. Being skinny seems to be the key to the happiness she has desperately been seeking. Her mother and friends shower her with compliments, telling her how fantastic she looks. Kayla is starving, but no one knows it.

Cameron Bennett explodes into Kayla’s life. He’s sexy and kind—he has every quality she has been looking for in a guy. As Cameron grows closer to Kayla and learns of how far she’s willing to go to stay thin, he becomes desperate to save her.

Kayla’s struggles with anorexia and bulimia reach a breaking point and she is forced to confront her body image issues in order to survive. She wonders if Cameron could be the one to help heal her from the pain of her past.

New Adult Contemporary-Ages 17+ due to language and sexual situations.

I really enjoyed Wood's other book, First Visions, so I can't wait to give this one a try. I don't know why but I always enjoy reading books on hard subjects and I can't wait to see how Wood does with this topic.

Did I mention that I love this cover?

Also, you can enter on goodreads to win an advanced copy of The Disappearing Girl!

What are you waiting on?

Review: Crash by: Lisa McMann

Crash by: Lisa McMann (Visions Book 1) (2013)

Publisher: Simon Pulse

233 pages

Genre: YA/Paranormal/Mystery

Goodreads Summary: Jules lives with her family above their restaurant, which means she smells like pizza most of the time and drives their double-meatball-shaped food truck to school. It’s not a recipe for popularity, but she can handle that.

What she can’t handle is the recurring vision that haunts her. Over and over, Jules sees a careening truck hit a building and explode...and nine body bags in the snow.

The vision is everywhere—on billboards, television screens, windows—and she’s the only one who sees it. And the more she sees it, the more she sees. The vision is giving her clues, and soon Jules knows what she has to do. Because now she can see the face in one of the body bags, and it’s someone she knows. Someone she has been in love with for as long as she can remember.

My Review

Crash wasn't a big hit with me. I was really looking forward to reading an exciting book about a teenager who gets a vision of a crash and must find a way to stop it. Sounds exciting right? Well it isn't nearly as exciting as the synopsis implied. Now I don’t want to be overly negative, there were some good parts of this book as well. So here we go… what I thought were the hits and misses.

What I enjoyed:

• The family dynamic is really great. Jules works at her parents’ family pizza shop and of course there is a pizza rivalry with another family in town. This part of the plot was fun. Her older brother was quirky, her sister was mysterious, her mom was interesting, and her dad was troublesome, but for some reason it just worked.
• Lisa McMann does a great job at adding a great amount of details, especially when breaking down and describing the crash scene that Jules continuously has visions about. My favorite part of the book is when Jules breaks down and takes apart the scene to try and figure out what she can do to sop it.
• There was some quirky cute writing and jokes that made me laugh.
• It was a quick read. Which not to be overly rude, but I’m glad it was quick because at times it was very unenjoyable.
• The ending was good and set it up nicely for the second book.
• Plus, that cover is pretty awesome. I love the fire burning in her eye, a reflection of the crash.

What I wasn't a fan of:

• Everything was predictable. I didn't feel any shock factor when reading Crash and that made me really sad. Considering that Jules is trying to solve this puzzle of how to prevent the deadly crash from happening, it was a let down that there were no big twists.
• The main character Jules was slightly annoying and too juvenile for my tastes. She acted more like 14 than 17.
• Crash did remind me somewhat of Final Destination and Mara Dyer, but not nearly as good. I’m not even sure I will be reading the second book. I would probably pick it up at the library if I didn't have a huge TBR pile always looming in the background.
• The whole book seemed somewhat repetitive and it is a short book to begin with.
• The love story was nothing to write home about. I don't think the romance aspect of a story is the  most important thing in a novel, but this one just didn't do anything for me. 
• The book/plot doesn't do the cover justice.

Overall I didn’t think Crash was great, but it wasn’t horrible either. It was just eh for me, but that doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy it. If you are looking for a quick young adult novel with great details with a paranormal and mystery element then you may enjoy it just fine. 

RATING 2.5/5    Buy Crash

Top Bookish News of The Past Week

Here are all the interesting bookish stories, pictures, videos, and blog posts I found this past week. 

All of the titles are linked up to their respective articles/blog posts. Click away!

ARTICLES

Theo James Credit: J.B. Lacroix/Wireimage

1. Divergent has found its Four! This news blew up all over Twitter on Friday night and I have been waiting very patiently (okay not really patiently but I have been waiting) and it is finally here! Drum roll please... Theo James is playing Tobias aka Four. Look at him. What do you think? I think he is a tad old but to me he exudes Four with his looks and demeanor. I can't wait for this movie! There were also a few more people casted this week for Divergent and you can see that list here. 
2. Books Like Game of Thrones: George R.R. Recommended reading Don't get mad, but I have yet to read Game of Thrones. I have only watched the television show. My husband on the other hand is a huge fan of the books and is always complaining that it takes forever until the next one comes out. Lucky for him and other fans the Game of Thrones author gives us some reading suggestions!
3. Google+ Users in Uproar About Google Reader Shutdown As I am sure you have heard, Google Reader is shutting down in July. Read what many have done once they received this news. Instead of freaking out, okay you can still freak out, check out this list over at Bookish Comforts blog to get some ideas on what else you can use. She does a brief overview of the each suggested program along with a list of pros and cons.

BLOG POSTS

1. Movie Round Up: Most Disturbing Films This post is a little different and not about books but about movies! It started a really interesting discussion. Therefore if you are a movie buff as well as a book lover you should totally check this post out.
2. Saturday at Starbucks Although I have yet to participate in this meme I hope to do so soon. It is brand new and very interesting. You write a post featuring your coffee or other drink of the day along with the discussion topic. 
3. What does it Mean to Be A Book Blogger? A very insightful post on what Lexi thinks it means to be a blogger. I pretty much agree with everything she says here. Take a look and see what you think. 
4. YA Trend Watch Red heads, road trips, competitions and more. Some of the trends Writer of Wrongs points out I have noticed, but some I haven't. If you are looking for a fun post to read then this one will be a sure bet.

VIDEO

1. This week's Tea Time video with Epic Reads is below. In case you don't follow them you really should. They talk about fun bookish topics and do a lot of book giveaways! I was even mentioned this week at about 21:50! Woot!

Video streaming by Ustream

BOOK REVIEWS

1. Going Vintage by: Lindsey Leavitt This contemporary novel sounds like a funny and delightful read. I wish I could go vintage, but then I wouldn't be blogging and we can't have that.
2. Rape Girl by: Alina Klein A serious topic, rape, is discussed, and how it affects one girl in high school.
3. Vain by: Fisher Amelie This book has romance with a very vain girl going through a huge transformation.
4. Furious by: Jill Wolfson Love new takes on Greek mythology? This one is for you!

Book Recommendation Friday #3: If you liked If I Stay by: Gayle Forman...

Book Recommendation Friday is back! 

I will try to come up with different and unique reading suggestions old and new for each post. I only recommend books that I have already read unless noted.

The books I suggest aren't always necessarily the same genre/plot so much as they have the same feel... and are great reads of course.  

Click on the book title to find out more about each one. Enjoy these reading suggestions!

If you liked If I Stay by: Gayle Forman then you should read...

1. Every Day by: David Levithan
2. Thirteen Reasons Why by: Jay Asher
3. Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes by: Maureen Johnson
4. The Lovely Bones by: Alice Sebold
5. The Pact by: Jodi Picoult
6. Before I Fall by: Lauren Oliver (I know I mentioned this book in a previous reading recommendation post, but it is just that good and fits here nicely.)

For other recommendations check out my If you liked...then read... page!

Do you have any books to add to this list or do you have any requests on what book I should feature next? Share below!

Book Tour: First Visions by: Heather Topham Wood (Review & Giveaway)

First Visions by: Heather Topham Wood (Second Sight #1) (2012)
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
230 pages
Genre: New Adult/Paranormal/Romance
Buy The Book: Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository | Amazon

Synopsis

Two years ago, 21-year-old Kate Edwards became deathly ill and slipped into a coma. While unconscious, she crept into the mind of a missing boy and awoke with the knowledge of his location. Friends and family were skeptical and wary of her new ability to see into the minds of others. Their fears prompted Kate to keep her psychic powers a secret. Feeling alienated, she dropped out of college and spent most of her days holed up at her mother's home.

Now another child has been abducted. Police detective Jared Corbett seeks out Kate for her help in solving the case. Reluctantly, Kate agrees and they must work together to bring 8-year-old Cori Preston home to her family. Although attracted to one another, Jared has a girlfriend with ties to the abduction case and Kate is sarcastic and guarded since her coma. With visions she can't control and an uncontrollable attraction to the detective, she wonders if she can leave the past behind and finally stop hiding from the world. Otherwise, Cori may be lost forever.

My Review

A HUGE thank you to Heather Tompham Wood for making the first New Adult book I ever read a remarkable and unforgettable experience. Okay, just to make sure I’m really getting across to my readers… I LOVED this book and you NEED to read it. It is a quick read that was hard to put down once I started. If you’re looking for a good page turner with a paranormal element and some romance thrown in then this book would be a perfect choice.

Have you ever searched for a paranormal book that actually seems real? One that could actually be taking place right now in our world? Well this one does just that. Kate isn’t all happy go lucky about her visions, and they are not overly hyped up, celebrated, or concise. She deals with the consequences of being different, making this one of the most real life relateable paranormal books I've read, and I love that it has this quality.

Now let’s get down to the characters. The very beginning of this book had me a little on edge. I wasn't sure if I really liked the main character Kate, she seemed a little unstable and somewhat off. Then after reading like 10 more pages I completely changed my mind. Kate is wonderfully interesting, hilarious, and just the right amount of weird. Her attitude is nothing short of snarky cuteness. She is kind of a loner because of her hiding out after she got her first vision due to the horrible backlash she received, but I’m telling you right now that I totally want her to be my friend. She was just so real. And the male lead, can anyone say yummy? You will like this stand up detective that is not only drool worthy but honorable. I usually prefer bad boys in my books, but I had absolutely no problem with Jared. Not to mention the undeniable chemistry between the two characters! 

The two main supporting characters rounded out the book very nicely. Kate’s mother who I will admit at times says things that are somewhat unbelievable, adds the perfect touch to show just what Kate is going through. The other supporting character, Jared’s girlfriend, is important even if I hated her.

Will I be reading the next two books? Of course I will. I plan to do just that as soon as I catch up on a couple of other books I need to read first. I can’t wait! On top of that... the next two books in the series are already out! You don't even have to wait...and as fellow book lovers I'm sure that is a nice and rare treat.

The bottom line is this… Read it. Love it. Share it. If you want to try out New Adult that goes against what a lot of fellow readers have been saying about this new genre, that they are just sexier young adult novels with a lot of angst, then read this. It is so much more.

RATING: 4.5/5

Author

Heather Topham Wood’s obsession with novels began in childhood while growing up in a shore town in New Jersey. Writing since her teens, she recently returned to penning novels after a successful career as a freelance writer. In 2012, she published the first two novels in her Second Sight series: First Visions and New Revelations.

Heather graduated from the College of New Jersey in 2005 and holds a bachelor's degree in English. Her freelance work has appeared in publications such as USA Today, Livestrong.com, Outlook by the Bay and Step in Style magazine. She resides in Trenton, New Jersey with her husband and two sons. Besides writing, Heather is a pop culture fanatic and has an obsession with supernatural novels and TV shows.

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow This Blog Tour

March 11th 

-Pink Polka Dot Book Blog

-The Bookmark Blog 

-Busy Moms Book Reviews

-Unraveling Words 

-BoundbyWords

-Imagine a World 

-New Adult Addiction 

-Comfort Books

-Pieces of Whimsy   

-Oops! I Read A Book Again 

March 12th 

-Shortie Says 

-BookPics  

-A Book and a Latte

-Books Books and More Books 

-Librarian Mouse  

-She's Got Books on Her Mind 

-Curling Up With A Good Book 

March 13th  

-Must Read Faster 

-The Bibliophile's Corner 

-Seeing Night Reviews   

-oodles of books 

-Girls *Heart* Books

-Inkk Reviews 

-A Soul Unsung

-The Solitary Bookworm 

-A Diary Of A Book Addict 

March 14th 

-ReadingToTheStarsAndBack

-Doodle's Book Blog 

-Tugcenin Kitapligi

-Fic Fare  

-Intoxicated by Books 

-Deal Sharing Aunt  

-Oh, The Books You'll Read! 

-It's a Book Life 

March 15th  

-The Literati Press

-Megz Madd Readz  

-Magical Manuscripts 

-Books i View 

-Just a Booklover 

-Ed and Em's Reviews 

-Musings of a YA Reader  

March 16th 

-The LUV'NV 

-Java With Jambor 

-Basia's Bookshelf

-Manhattan Reader 

-Turning the Pages 

-Kelsey's Cluttered Bookshelf 

-That Girl Reads

** Thank you Xpresso Book Tours and author Heather Wood for giving me the chance to read and review this novel! Thanks for the free copy. It in no way impacted my honest review.