ARC Review: Paragon (Legacy Code #2) | Autumn Kalquist

Paragon (Legacy Code #2)
by Autumn Kalquist
Published November 30th 2014 
by Diapason Publishing

Goodreads Summary:
Tadeo Raines knows what they say about him. It’s all lies. 
But lies are better than the truth. 

He broke the rules once and swore he’d never do it again. Now traitors plot against the fleet, and he's tasked with hunting them down and stopping them. Permanently. 

Tadeo was born to command, born to lead the last remnants of humanity to a new Earth. He knows there’s a better world out there: Daylight at the end of humanity's long night. And he's willing to do whatever it takes to get the fleet there. Even if it means walking the line between loyalty and treason. And breaking the rules... Again.

Add to Goodreads

Buy it Now: Amazon

Thank you to Autumn for providing me with an eARC of this book for review. 

After such a heart wrenching ending to Legacy Code (see my review here) I was eager to get to read Paragon. 

I wanted to see where the story was going to go. 

Would the secrets Era discovered be told to the whole fleet?

So many questions!

The story was told through 3 different point of views, Tadeo, Zephyr, and another character which I won't name because it would be a spoiler. 

The opening of Paragon was hard to read. I wanted to hate Tadeo. He had the opportunity to save Era but he knew he would not be able to without sacrificing himself as well. So I understood and wanted to understand him. Throughout the entire book I had a love/hate relationship with him. He is completely loyal and that has to be admired. I guess...

Zephyr annoyed me at first when she came into the book. She was, of course, distraught after hearing about what happened with Era. I felt like she should have tried to do something more urgently. However, near the end of the book she did become badass, standing up for herself and her friend. I can't wait to see what happens with her in the next book and see what she does with the information Era left behind. 

The 3rd POV through in an interesting perspective to see what that character was going through while everything was happening on the Paragon. 

Full of questions, traitors galore, secrets & suspicions. 

You can't even trust your own family in this world! 

Can't wait for more Autumn! <3

Finished 1/3/2015

Blog Tour: Giveaway & 10's List | True Calling | Siobhan Davis

This is my stop during the blog tour for True Calling by Siobhan Davis. This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The blog tour runs from 15 till 30 November, you can view the complete tour schedule on the website of Lola’s Blog Tours.

True Calling (True Calling #1)
By Siobhan Davis
Genre: Dystopian/Science Fiction/Romance
Age category: Young Adult
Release Date: August 1, 2014

Blurb:
Planet Novo, nestled in space twelve hundred miles above the surface of the Earth, is the new home of 17-year-old Cadet Ariana Skyee. Confused by the government-sanctioned memory erase and distressed at her impending forced marriage and motherhood, Ariana’s plans for the future are thrown into complete disarray.

As the traumatic events within her family life enfold, Ariana grows increasingly alarmed at the authorities apparent pre-occupation with her and feels progressively more isolated and alone.

Her growing feelings for fellow Cadet Cal Remus intensify as the recently announced pageant, ‘The Calling’, gets underway. Struggling to comprehend the continuous, inexplicable dreams of the mysterious Zane, discovering the past helps shape her future, with devastating personal consequences.

Buy it here:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks | Ciando ebooks | Copia books | Bookbaby

See my 5 Coffee Cup Star review of True Calling 

10's List

Technological and/or Medical Advancements you’d like to see in your lifetime

Firstly, I’d just like to say that this is an awesome topic, and I’d like to thank Ashley for setting me such a cool challenge. Writing this list has been very thought-provoking, and involved some interesting debate in the Davis’ household! When you start thinking about technological and medical advancements, it is amazing to realize how much society has, and will, achieve over the course of one person’s lifetime. Awe-inspiring. Here is my ten cents worth:

10. Self-drive cars with centralized tracking systems: This one is the easiest to predict, and we are already moving towards this goal. Think no more taxi’s (sorry taxi drivers – I think it is time to start retraining), no need for designated drivers and no restrictions on bringing your car with you on a night out.

9. Early medical detection: In True Calling being supremely healthy is of vital concern to the new government, to ensure the continuation of humanity. Medicets (specialist robots) and the Vita chip implants monitor individual health on a daily basis. This is something I’d like to see in my lifetime, as there is so much needless suffering that could be prevented. There’s no question that breakthroughs in genetic engineering will help us treat or eliminate a whole range of diseases in the future.

8. Fingerprint and Retinal ID as standard to help eliminate identity theft and remove the need for cash and credit cards when shopping.

7. Everyone is a Fashion Designer: Customizable computer programmes that allow us to create our own clothing range; that would be pretty cool, right? Imagine you could log into your computer and plug in what you want - colour, material, texture, style, size. Uploading your image would enable you to view how the end product will look. Then you just click a button, and your design is manufactured and shipped.

6. Family Robots will become the new family pets, only much more useful as they attend to our needs, rather than the other way around. I am already salivating at the prospect of more time to write, and never having to clean the oven/shower/toilet again.

5. Automated exercise: I’d like to be around when they develop a machine/robot/computer that exercises my body while I sleep. You are starting to see a pattern here, yeah? It’s not that I’m lazy, more that I aspire to be lazy—so I can sit at my desk transcribing the stories from my head, and not have to worry about anything else in my life because modern day living already takes care of that.

4. Targeted Medical Programmes: Individual genetic code is harnessed to customize medical programmes that a) cure individual illnesses and b) help prevent genetic illness passing from generation to generation.

3. Extend our lifetimes: Stem cell research is apparently making great progress, and it is quite possible that we will be able to increase our lifespan. I’d like to be around to meet my great-great grandchildren, but only if this life extension programme can also halt the aging process. Because who’d want to look at a 150-year-old face otherwise?

2. Commercial space travel: I really want to holiday beyond this world, and I can think of nothing more incredible than looking down at Earth as we rocket to our 5-star holiday village in outer space. Epic.

1. Eat all you want without gaining weight: I am pinning all my hopes on this one!! He, he!! I am hopeful that some super drug will be created, or genetic modification programme developed, which allows me to stuff my face and remain a skinny-minnie at the same time. Super shallow, I know, but I am nothing if not honest.

About the Author:
Siobhan Davis is the author of YA science fiction romance series True Calling.
A self-diagnosed ‘teenager forever’—at least when it comes to books, music and movies; Siobhan is totally addicted to teen fiction and superhero/blockbuster movies. Siobhan loves baking, crime novels, shoes, bags, make-up, anti-wrinkle cream, anything pink, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, and Robert Pattinson (definitely Team Edward).
Siobhan has forged a successful corporate career, in Human Resources, over the last twenty years.
A member of the IWI writers group, Siobhan resides in the Garden County of Ireland with her husband and two sons.
Contact Siobhan at: www.siobhandavis.com

You can find and contact Siobhan here:
- Website | Author blog | Book website | Facebook | Twitter | Google + | Goodreads

There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of True Calling. 

 The giveaway is open international. These are the prizes you can win:

- Paperback copy True Calling

- 3 e-copies of True Calling

For a chance to win enter the rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

RDL: Teasers & Giveaway || Melt || Selene Castrovilla

 

MELT is a brutal love story set against the metaphorical backdrop of The Wizard of Oz (not a retelling). When sixteen year old Dorothy moves to the small town of Highland Park, she meets, and falls for Joey – a “bad boy” who tells no one about the catastrophic domestic violence he witnesses at home. Can these two lovers survive peer pressure, Joey’s reputation, and his alcoholism? Told in dual first person, Joey's words are scattered on the page - reflecting his broken state. Dorothy is the voice of reason - until something so shattering happens that she, too, may lose her grip. Can their love endure, or will it melt away? MELT is based on true events. It is both a chilling tale of abuse, and a timeless romance. It will hit you like a punch in the face, and also seep through the cracks in your soul.

Goodreads | Amazon 

See my 5 Coffee Cup Star review of MELT here !

#MELTdown

For the past month leading up to the release of MELT, Selene Castrovilla has shared a fantastic  MELTdown post every day on her blog! In these posts she's shared tidbits of "insider information” about MELT: its content, its inspiration and her writing process... including excerpts! The first post is HERE, and you use the post navigation at the bottom of the page to click through and read them. Enjoy!

 Join us for MELT's Online Launch Party!

 

You’ve invited to celebrate the release of Selene Castrovilla’s MELT  at her Facebook Launch Party on November 9, 2014. The party will be from 5:00 – 11:00 PM EST, so we hope you’ll stop by! There will be prizes, and very special guests: Beth Fehlbaum, Gae Polisner, Cassie Shine, and Kathy Cannon Weichman. We hope to see you there!

[RSVP Here]

 

About the Author

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Goodreads

Selene Castrovilla is an award-winning teen and children’s author who believes that through all trends, humanity remains at the core of literature. She is the author of Saved By the Music and The Girl Next Door, teen novels originally published by WestSide Books and now available digitally through ASD Publishing. Her third children’s book with Calkins Creek Books, Revolutionary Friends, was released in April 2013. She is also a contributing author to UncommonYA. Selene holds an MFA in creative writing from New School University and a BA in English from New York University. She lives on Long Island with her two sons. Visit her website www.SeleneCastrovilla.com for book excerpts and more information!

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW: Get Happy by Mary Amato

Get Happy

By: Mary Amato

Expected publication: October 28th 2014 by EgmontUSA

eARC provided by the publisher through Edelweiss

Blurb: 

In this poignant, realistic, contemporary YA by a state master list star, perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Gayle Forman, a young songwriter builds a substitute family with her friends in place of the broken family she grew up with.

A hip high school girl who loves music, writes songs, and is desperate for a ukelele, learns to her shock that her father did not abandon her years ago and has been trying to keep in touch. She begins to investigate him, only to discover that he has a new life with a new family, including the perfect stepdaughter, a girl who Minerva despises.

Pre-Order it Now: 

Amazon || Barnes and Noble

About the Author: 

Mary Amato is an award-winning children’s book author, poet, playwright, and songwriter. Her books have been translated into foreign languages, optioned for television, produced onstage, and have won the children’s choice awards in several states.

Website || Goodreads || Facebook || Twitter

eARC provided by the publisher through Edelweiss

Get Happy was an adorable, short, and very realistic young adult novel. I had a smile on my face while reading through 95% of the book(toward the end is kind of sad so my smile changed to concern from the main character.) 

Meet Minerva: The story starts out with her waking up on her 16th birthday fully anticipating a ukulele (after providing lots of hints throughout the last few months for her mom) instead she receives an itchy sweater that her mom insists that she wears right there on her way to school. 

Minerva wants a change and wants to make money to buy the ukulele she wants so terribly. Minerva, her best friend, Fin, the hot guy, and a beautiful girl get jobs at Get Happy. A place that sends dressed up characters to children's birthday parties. 

Minerva stumbles upon her fathers real name and starts to investigate. She is torn between wanting to know him and disliking him for abandoning her at the age of 2. 

This book is so heartwarming, fulfilling, entertaining, and laugh out loud funny. I enjoyed it so much! I recommend it if you are looking for a quick, feel good read.... read GET HAPPY ! :)

5 Coffee Cup Stars
Finished October 13, 2014

That's all for now! 

REVIEW: Better Off Friends || Elizabeth Eulberg

Better off Friends

By: Elizabeth Eulberg

Published February 25th 2014 by Point

Hardcover, 276 pages

Blurb: 

WHEN HARRY MET SALLY . . . for teens, from romantic comedy star Elizabeth Eulberg.

For Macallan and Levi, it was friends at first sight. Everyone says guys and girls can't be just friends, but these two are. They hang out after school, share tons of inside jokes, their families are super close, and Levi even starts dating one of Macallan's friends. They are platonic and happy that way.

Eventually they realize they're best friends -- which wouldn't be so bad if they didn't keep getting in each other's way. Guys won't ask Macallan out because they think she's with Levi, and Levi spends too much time joking around with Macallan, and maybe not enough time with his date. They can't help but wonder . . . are they more than friends or are they better off without making it even more complicated?

From romantic comedy superstar Elizabeth Eulberg comes a fresh, fun examination of a question for the ages: Can guys and girls ever really be just friends? Or are they always one fight away from not speaking again -- and one kiss away from true love?

About the Author: 

The short and sweet version:
Elizabeth Eulberg was born and raised in Wisconsin before heading off to college at Syracuse University and making a career in the New York City book biz. Now a full-time writer, she is the author of The Lonely Hearts Club, Prom & Prejudice, Take a Bow, Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality, and Better Off Friends. She lives outside of Manhattan with her three guitars, two keyboards, and one drumstick.

To check out the long version, head over to my webpage: http://www.elizabetheulberg.com/bio.html

To say that I enjoyed this book is an understatement. I ADORED this book. Better Off Friends starts off with Macallan anticipating entering the seventh grade. After experiencing the loss of her mother she has had to much time to think during summer and can't wait to be back in school where she doesn't have so much free time. However, when Macallan is asked to report to the main office before school starts she is afraid the school isn't going to let her move on.

Turns out the school principal introduces Macallan to Levi Rodgers, a new kid from California that just moved to their town. Macallan is asked to show Levi around and to make him comfortable with the new school.

Macallan and Levi quickly become best friends, bonding over a British TV show that they both love. Told in chapters that alternate between their voices, it follows them for five years. During this time Macallan deals with the death of her mother and Levi strives to fit in with 'the guys'. Always maintaining their relationship as 'just friends'. Through the years guys and girls are both intimidated by their close relationship assuming that they are a couple.

After every chapter there is section of conversation that happens between Macallan and Levi in present day as they recall the situations as they are being told through out the story. Elizabeth does a great job with the development of the characters as they mature throughout the book. As Macallan and Levi realize that they are in love with each other they both do everything to avoid the fact and make misguided decisions.

As the story continues you begin to question if Macallan and Levi can just remain friends or if there is always something more.

This book was entertaining and heart-warming. I cheered for both characters, wanting them to be happy. And was sad when they were facing emotional challenges. The characters felt real, like this could be based off a true story. It a very humorous and lovely story about friendships and relationships, and the oh-so-fine line between them.

5 Coffee Cup Stars
Finished October 2nd 2014

True Calling || REVIEW

True Calling

By Siobhan Davis
Published: July 28th 2014 by Siobhan Davis
Kindle Edition || 289 pages

Buy it now 

Publisher Description:

I wonder which situation is hardest.
Mine, because I remember everything, or hers because she can’t.

Planet Novo, nestled in space twelve hundred miles above the surface of the Earth, is the new home of 17 year-old Cadet Ariana Skyee. Forced to flee to Novo two years previously—to avoid the succession of natural disasters which have ravaged Earth—Ariana and her family are part of the chosen few who have been carefully selected to share in this new existence. Other survivors reside in a technology deprived post-apocalyptic America; under the constant scrutiny of the ruthless regime, and deliberately kept in the dark about life on Novo.

The new government is strategically focused on the continuation of mankind and development of Novo society. They consequently announce the introduction of a televised e-pageant, ‘The Calling’, which compels every seventeen year old into impending marriage and parenthood.

Devastated at the removal of her free will and forced abandonment of her desired military career; Ariana grows increasingly alarmed at the authorities apparent pre-occupation with her. As a series of tragic events tear her family life apart, Ariana feels progressively more isolated and alone.

Her growing feelings for much-admired, fellow Cadet Cal Remus, intensify as ‘The Calling’ gets underway. Hot-headed, but fiercely loyal and protective, Cal shares knowledge which appears to indicate that the fragile fabric of their new society is disintegrating in front of their eyes.

Confused by the government-sanctioned memory erase—which has stolen her memories of those left behind on Earth—Ariana is struggling to comprehend the continuous, inexplicable dreams of the mysterious Zane.

Discovering the past helps shape her future, with devastating personal consequences.

Thank you to Kym @ Superbookgrl13 for the giveaway for this book 

and to Siobhan Davis for providing the copy !

True Calling is a dystopian-sci-fi-romance that is FABULOUS ! Siobhan did not fail to impress me with this debut novel. It was action packed, swoon-worthy (but not too much!) and I couldn't stop turning page after page. 

|| What I loved ||

I immediately connected with the main character Ariana. She is the one to stay out of the spotlight, loyal to the upmost to her friends and family. Then she is thrown into the world of 'The Calling', a televised pageant that pairs her with her future husband through voting and outside influence. Ariana struggles to accept having to be part of 'The Calling' and is against every aspect of the process. Ariana begins to develop feelings for fellow cadet Cal Remus after quite some time of thinking of him as annoying, amongst other things. 

Through out the book Ariana continuously has dreams that involve a guy named Zane. She has reason to believe that she should know who this mysterious guy but has no memory of him. While Ariana continues to try to unravel who Zane is and how she knows him she grows closer and closer with Cal. 

|| What I didn't care for ||

I didn't like that Cal was so possessive over Ariana and the angry that he showed toward the end of the book. I hope that it lessens over time in the following books. 

I didn't enjoy that the author dedicated a few chapters to Zane telling his side of the story. I did like that it went back over the same time line that the previous section of Ariana's story. But I feel as thought the author should have written in his parts as they are happening and didn't break it up into sections. 

|| OVERALL || 

I loved this story and the pacing keep me involved and interested. I'm excited to see how the story continues in the next books in the series. I still haven't decided whether I'm Team Cal or Team Zane yet. I liked/disliked things about both characters. I do hope that Ariana learns more about Zane though since he is SO dedicated to her! 

5 Coffee Cup Stars!
Finished September 20th 2014

Paper Towns- REVIEW

Paper Towns
By John Green
Published October 1st 2008 by Speak
ebook, 320 pages
ISBN: 1101010932

Publisher Description:

When Margo Roth Spiegelman beckons Quentin Jacobsen in the middle of the night--dressed like a ninja and plotting an ingenious campaign of revenge--he follows her. Margo's always planned extravagantly, and, until now, she's always planned solo. After a lifetime of loving Margo from afar, things are finally looking up for Q . . . until day breaks and she has vanished. Always an enigma, Margo has now become a mystery. But there are clues. And they're for Q.

                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My thoughts:

This book contained witty, sarcastic, laugh-out-loud entertainment for me. I was repeatedly stopping and re-reading lines to my other half to see if he laughed as much as me. He didn't. But I told him he had to be into the book. 

This is my second John Green book. I loved each of them on different levels and I'm so glad that they are completely different stories. I appreciate Quentin's consistent dedication to Margo even though she clearly wanted nothing to do with him for years.

As he embarks on this journey from Orlando to New York, he only is faced with more questions. Pick this one up as a quick read with an entertaining couple of characters. 

5 Coffee Cup Stars
Finished on March 31, 2014

The Fault in Our Stars- REVIEW

The Fault in Our Stars
By John Green
Published January 10th 2012 by Dutton Books
Hardcover, 318 pages
ISBN: 0525478817

Publisher Description:

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My thoughts:

I don't know what I can say about this book that hasn't already been said. This is my very first John Green book and regardless of the hype I'm glad that I picked it up and read it. 

I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this book. Though I was certainly frustrated and annoyed with certain aspects of the story. 

I've got to say my favorite part of the book is when they visit the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam, strictly because this exact thing has been a dream of mine for a LONG time. I was glad that I was able to visualize it. 

The relationship between Hazel and Gus is certainly unconventional, not something that I could actually see taking place in real life. However, I've never known anyone personally that is deal with a life-threatening illness. 

I appreciate this book because it gave me the want to read other books by John Green, so look for those reviews to come.

5 Coffee Cup Stars
Finished on February 12, 2014

The Promise of Stardust- REVIEW

The Promise of Stardust
By Priscille Sibley
Published February 5th 2013 by William Morrow Paperbacks
Paperback, 432 pages
ISBN: 0062194178

Publisher Description:
Matt Beaulieu was two years old the first time he held Elle McClure in his arms, seventeen when he first kissed her under a sky filled with shooting stars, and thirty-three when he convinced her to marry him. Now in their late 30s, the deeply devoted couple has everything-except the baby they've always wanted.
When an accident leaves Elle brain dead, Matt is devastated. Though he cannot bear the thought of life without her, he knows Elle was afraid of only one thing-a slow death. And so, Matt resolves to take her off life support.
But Matt changes his mind when they discover Elle's pregnant. While there are no certainties, the baby might survive if Elle remains on life support. Matt's mother, Linney, disagrees with his decision. She loves Elle, too, and insists that Elle would never want to be kept alive on machines. Linney is prepared to fight her son in court-armed with Elle's living will.
Divided by the love they share, Matt and Linney will be pitted against each other, fighting for what they believe is right, and what they think Elle would have wanted resulting in a controversial legal battle that will ultimately go beyond one family . . . and one single life.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Thoughts:
This book reminds me of the reason I love reading.
Reminding me that crying while reading is okay.
This book is heart breaking.
This book is intense and thought-provoking.
It causes conversations to take place.
It makes you want to talk with your loved ones.

We are thrown quickly into Matt's life as he is battling with the decision to take his wife Elle off of life support, even though she is currently pregnant. Elle experienced a terrible accident that has left her in a coma on life support in the hospital that her husband is employed at. Elle's family wants to remove her from life support believing this is what she would want.

An all out war ensues between Matt and Elle's family deciding whether Elle should be kept on life support with no guarantee that the baby will even survive. Flashbacks throughout the book tell the story of Matt and Elle. We get to see the struggles they have experienced with infertility and see how they have grown together as times are great and tough. We are shown how much Elle wants nothing more than a family.

The way Matt loves his wife is incredible. It made me wish that Elle was 'present' and he was able to express his love completely. I continued to hope that a miracle would happen. Priscille was able to provoke a variety of emotions from me. Hope and love prevailed over all. I believe if I book can legitimately effect your life it deserves no less than 5 stars.

5 Coffee Cup Stars

Finished January 18, 2014