Free Four (Divergent #1.5)

Author: Veronica Roth
Goodreads Rating: 4.66
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages: 13
Reviewed by: Nicole


So Veronica Roth promised that if we pre-ordered 35,000 copies of Insurgent, then she would release a short story that she wrote for Four's POV that took place during Divergent. I was super excited then this was done with Hana for Delirium, so you can only imagine how excited I was for this short story.


Goodreads synopses:


A never-before-seen piece from #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth: a pivotal scene from DIVERGENT told from Four’s point of view.


I'm not even going to add a jump.


So I really enjoyed reading this because it was a nice quick fix for my need of Four and Tris. I thought that going to Tobias's mind was something that as a reader was really important because when things are first starting with Tris and Four we have no idea if the attraction between them is just in Tris' head or if it is something that is mutual. This scene proved that from the start it was an equal attraction.


I liked that she chose to do the infamous "Knife Scene" were Tris comes to Al's defense and takes a knife for him, literally. I liked seeing that Four did everything for her. I also found it delectable that he decided to feign boredom my scratching his eyebrow with a knife (Its not safe kids, but my mental image is just amazing). 


There is a lot in this that can be spoiled and I would rather not do that to you, because why? Because I want you to read Divergent, and then become hooked and then read Free Four, and then become even more addicted, and then devour Insurgent only to become angry at me because you have to wait for the last book. In the words of my good friend Brittany "you're bad for my health because all you do is get me addicted to things." To which my response was "Good thing I don't do drugs." So please. Read. Enjoy. And most of all, Thank me for getting you hooked.

Safe Within

Author: Jean Reynolds Page
Goodreads Rating: 3.83
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages: 325
Reviewed By: Nicole


I read The Space Between Before and After by Jean Reynolds Page last summer and loved it, so each time the chance to read another of her books comes up, I seem to jump at it. I got The Last Summer of Her Other Life at Borders as it closed on a whim and her book Leaving Before it's Over was a Free Friday book for the Nook. So when the chance to review it for her blog tour came up, I happily jumped at the chance to be one of the special 10 blogs mentioned on the back cover of the book. (Not mentioned by name, but all the same)


Amazon.com Synopses:

A novel of how family happens—whether you like it or not

Elaine and Carson Forsyth have returned to the tree house—Elaine's childhood home, a cabin nestled high in the branches of two oaks beside a North Carolina lake—where forty-nine-year-old Carson has chosen to spend the waning days of his life. As Elaine prepares for a future without her beloved husband, their solace is interrupted. Carson's mother, Greta, has set loose a neighbor's herd of alpacas and landed herself in police custody. While Carson, remarkably, sees humor in the situation, Elaine can only question what her obligations are—and will be—to a woman who hasn't spoken to her in more than twenty years.

In the wake of Carson's death, Elaine and their grown son, Mick, are thrust into the maelstrom of Greta, the mother-in-law and grandmother who never accepted either of them. Just as they are trying to figure out their new roles in the family, Mick uncovers unexpected questions of his own. A long-ago teenage relationship with a local girl may have left him with more than just memories, and he must get to the bottom of Greta's surprising accusations that he's not Carson's son at all.

Glitch

Author: Heather Anastasiu
Goodreads Rating: 3.85
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages: 371
Reviewed By: Nicole


I won't lie, I totally judge a book by its cover. And this book made me glad that I did because look how pretty that is! I got this book from the publisher on Netgalley.


Goodreads Synopses:


In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.

In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.

Lover Reborn (Black Dagger Brotherhood #10)

Author: J.R. Ward
Goodreads Rating: 4.42
My Rating: 5
Pages: 572 
Reviewed by: Amy

Synopsis: 

Ever since the death of his shellan, Tohrment is a heartbroken shadow of the vampire leader he once was. Brought back to the Brotherhood by a self-serving fallen angel, he fights again with ruthless vengeance- and is unprepared for a new tragedy. Seeing his beloved in dreams—trapped in a cold, desolate netherworld—he turns to the angel to save his former mate, only to despair at the path he himself must take to set her free. As war with the lessers rages, and a new clan of vampires vies for the Blind King’s throne, Tohr struggles between an unforgettable past, and a future that he doesn’t know he can live with… but can’t seem to turn away from.

Review:

BEA Day 2

So my first real day at BEA was pretty splendid. Mom and I took the ferry over, and took silly pictures inside the "Reached" Bubble. We then met up with Kristan and her sister Jamie and from there we all divided and conqured. I shot over to Heather Gudenkauf's signing while my mom scoured the floor. I got to talk to a bunch of other bloggers who were waiting in line, like Jenn from Crazy For Books and Jamie.

From there I kind of just wandered the floor trying to get a feel of what it was like. In hindsight, I wish I had taken a photos of the floor to show you how immense this place was. And it was huge, and there were just so many books and people to meet. It was actually really overwhelming and I realized that I had gone about the whole day to start with very wrong when I met up with my mom and she had like 30 books and I had 1 from the signing that I was at.

Mom and me on the ferry ride there

I really appreciated having my mom there as a partner in crime to be sure that I hit all of the books that I wanted. She said herself that she would have to come with me next year for two days rather than one. I know that having had this been my first year I saw what mistakes I made and which ones I would make up for. I got to meet Ally Condie at her signing of Matched, which I know a lot of people were bummed about since it wasn't Reached, but I did get to take a cool picture inside the Reached Bubble.

My mom happened by the Random House booth and told them that she loved Rizzoli and Isles when she saw the bookmark on their table, and then they gave her a T Shirt that said Rizzoli and Isles on it. When I met up with her while she was standing in front of the booth, she told me to ask about it, but didn't tell me what would happen when I did, so I got a really awesome T-Shirt that day too.

The Reached Bubble

I was glad I was able to get my mom what she wanted which was the chance to meet Justin Cronin and get a copy of The Twelve. If we walked away with nothing but that book, I would have declared it a success. (But I was glad to get all the books I did anyway!)

People at BEA were killing me with their kindness, not just from Day 1, but also Day 2. I inquired about The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fford to Houghton Mifflin only to be told that they were out. While this was happening, my mother was sitting and resting at a table that they had for meetings so she missed this conversation. I told her and sort of shrugged it off as an oh well, but then the woman standing behind her reached into her bag and pulled it out and handed it to me saying that she got an extra. I was totally floored by this, and thanked her profusely. There are still good people in the world.

Sarah J. Maas and me!

Although we were late for it, I got to hang out at the Apocalypsies meet and greet which I regret I wasn't more useful with my camera. I met Gretchen McNeil (Ten), Claire Legrand(The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls), Lenore Appelhans (Level 2), and a whole bunch more. I didn't realize that I was totally ignoring Kat Zhang (What's Left of Me) as I gushed at Sarah Maas (Throne of Glass) (and had I realized who she was I totally would have gushed at her too).

My mom and I wound up being the last ones out of the room other than all the authors which I felt bad about, but then didn't because both of us were just so exhausted and achey from pounding the floor all day. I do have to say that my highlight of the day was making James Patterson smile for the camera. I think if he were to write me into one of his books, I would be swiftly dispatched. (But he smiled!) (I have to add that photo later because it was on my mom's camera, but that image is coming soon. In its very own post!)

In total for Day 2, but really BEA Day 1, I came home with 81 books, that we had to lug all the way down to the ferry because even if we had 2 suitcases, and the rain, it was still 81 books! Of the things I learned, I learned that no suitcase is big enough, I need to study Authors pictures so I know who they are and I don't accidentally ignore them, like Kat Zhang and like Claire Legrand who was sitting behind me in line to get in and always ask for business cards.

The Apocalypsies!