REVIEW: H2O (The Rain #1) by Virginia Bergin

H2O (The Rain #1) by Virginia Bergin

Publication Date: October 7, 2014

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire 
Source: ARC received from Publisher at Book Expo America 2014

Buy it at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

*This ARC was received from the publisher, but it did not influence this review in any way *

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

They don't believe it at first. Crowded in Zach's kitchen, Ruby and the rest of the partygoers laugh at Zach's parents' frenzied push to get them all inside as it starts to drizzle. But then the radio comes on with the warning, "It's in the rain! It's fatal, it's contagious, and there's no cure."

Two weeks later, Ruby is alone. Anyone who's been touched by rain or washed their hands with tap water is dead. The only drinkable water is quickly running out. Ruby's only chance for survival is a treacherous hike across the country to find her father-if he's even still alive

Ruby is a fifteen-year-old girl that is unlucky enough to experience the apocalypse. Or so that is how it appears. I think Ruby often forgets that she was not the only person in the world to experience the "death rain" and lose everyone she loves. I actually loved the premise of the story in regards to the "death rain" I mean, how scary would that be, right?! And I absolutely loved the character building of many of the side characters, like Simon, Ruby's stepfather. He went from kind of mean and argumentative to straight up loyal and caring. He put his feelings and his well being aside to take care of Ruby. He's the real MVP in this book! He taught her how to THINK so she could survive without him and in the end, thats exactly what she had to do.

I also loved meeting Darius Spratt, or as Ruby calls him, The Spratt. I feel like he was such an important character for Ruby to run into. I think he helps Ruby find a sense of independence and challenges her enough to keep her mind active and "thinking" just as Simon taught her. 

The Princess also seems significant to me but I don't really know why. I think it might have something to do with the fact that she doesn't speak and I have to wonder what it was exactly that happened to her family that left her so traumatized. You know, aside from the whole apocalypse thing. 

I hate to say that the only character I didn't like so much was Ruby. I know that the story is in her POV and if anything that should give me a sense of connection with her, which it did of course! But I also feel like she spent so much time fiddling around with the most ridiculous things. I mean seriously, every time she left the house all she did was raid stores and take designer clothes and makeup. Stop putting on makeup when you can't wash it off! Stop caring about skinny jeans that don't even fit you! Priorities, Ruby! Come on! But aside from her little selfish streak I do believe that Ruby is a good person and I also believe that she has the right intentions. I think in the end of this story Ruby will do what is right. But then again, the apocalypse has strange effects on some people!

REVIEW: Afterworlds by Scott Westerfield

Afterworlds by Scott Westerfield

Publication Date: September 23, 2014

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Source: ARC received from Publisher at Book Expo America 2014
Guest Reviewer: Doris aka La Chiquita

Buy it at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

*This book was received from the publisher, but it did not influence this review in any way *

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Darcy Patel has put college and everything else on hold to publish her teen novel, Afterworlds. Arriving in New York with no apartment or friends she wonders whether she's made the right decision until she falls in with a crowd of other seasoned and fledgling writers who take her under their wings…

Told in alternating chapters is Darcy's novel, a suspenseful thriller about Lizzie, a teen who slips into the 'Afterworld' to survive a terrorist attack. But the Afterworld is a place between the living and the dead and as Lizzie drifts between our world and that of the Afterworld, she discovers that many unsolved - and terrifying - stories need to be reconciled. And when a new threat resurfaces, Lizzie learns her special gifts may not be enough to protect those she loves and cares about most.

I AM DARCY PATEL! Well the warning tale of what happens when us Darcy's of the world don't follow that nagging need to write. Since I was a pre-teen I have been writing stories, poems, anything to take up the time felt between breaths. But not once did I feel brave enough to really finish the story, send it to the right agent and hope for the best. Reading about the life after the submission was my favorite. I am fairly (brand spanking) new to the literary world and this candid glance of what it can be for authors new and old truly had me turning pages. 

               Not only was I excited to read about the makings of a story but the story that Darcy writes i found myself wanting to read alone, as a separate book. I can definitely see myself sitting on the floor of the local Barnes and Nobles and thumbing though pages of "Afterworlds" and thinking when does the sequel come out? And how can I get my hands on it before that date. The story isn't one that I would have thought of writing, a love story that plays with the notion of life that is lived versus the life that is remembered. Scott Westerfield being a white middle aged man writing as a 18 year old Indian girl who wrote about a white California girl who falls in love with a Hindu death god, is a lot to get your head around. You wouldn't think that the story would work, but I gotta say it does.

               My only hiccup was that things were too easy for Darcy. There was no struggle in falling in love with her friend. (No spoilers, read it if you wanna know!) Then no struggles in finding out who she really is. The story was written for it to be pretty straight forward. This girl is paid to write this book, they work to publish the book, she gets a love interest for the first time then things go in a straight line after that. I wanted more movement. More pain, more realness of emotion. The only emotion Darcy allows herself is self doubt and worry. Through out the book she states that she is worried that one day the world will realize that she is an impostor and just take her "adult card" away.  For me, if you were brave enough to bare your bones by writing a story, you should be a pretty tough cookie. I wanted Darcy to be more like her protagonist Lizze who took her troubles as just that, troubles. They did not change who she was or what she decided to do.

               So to all my fellow Darcy's, you are not alone. You can live vicariously through Darcy in Afterworlds and get a good story at the same time. Win, win!

REVIEW: Nest by Esther Ehrlich~ BEA 2014

Nest by Esther Ehrlich

Publication Date: September 9, 2014

Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books
Source: ARC received from Publisher at Book Expo America 2014
Guest Reviewer: Doris aka La Chiquita

Buy it at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

*This book was received from the publisher, but it did not influence this review in any way *

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

For fans of Jennifer Holm (Penny from Heaven, Turtle in Paradise), a heartfelt and unforgettable middle-grade novel about an irresistible girl and her family, tragic change, and the healing power of love and friendship. In 1972 home is a cozy nest on Cape Cod for eleven-year-old Naomi “Chirp” Orenstein, her older sister, Rachel; her psychiatrist father; and her dancer mother. But then Chirp’s mom develops symptoms of a serious disease, and everything changes.

   Chirp finds comfort in watching her beloved wild birds. She also finds a true friend in Joey, the mysterious boy who lives across the street. Together they create their own private world and come up with the perfect plan: Escape. Adventure. Discovery.

Being 26 years old, and reading a story about a 13/14 year old you might say i was setting myself up for a few "i-remember-when" moments. This book did not let me down there. I was very nostalgic reading the antics that our protagonist Naomi "Chirp" Orenstien gets put through. One of my favorites was set during a thunderstorm; Chirp and her older sister, Rachel, danced outside with their mother watching from the front porch. Usually their mother would be out there with them, but because of a soar leg her mother decided it would be best to sit this one out. They wiggled and swayed and brought the performance to an end with a grand can-can routine. When i was about ten or tweleve I too went outside to danced in the rain. Mind you i didnt have a porch, but a stoop nor a yard but a field of cracked concrete. The feeling was still the same though. We were lost in our movements, in feeling the cold water running down our skin and the warmth in the laughter our mother released as we did a twirl just for her.

               

Unfortunately for our little Chirp those days were few and far between once her mother became sick. This book goes from "i-remember-when" moments to "i-cant-believe-that-just-happened" moments within pages of each other. Don't read this book if you can't handle sad endings. The family dynamic of the Orenstien household goes as follows. Rachel is the daddy's girl and Chirp the mother's side kick. When their mother was at full health she lived with a light so bright that it attracted loyalty from everyone she encountered. She is loved by her husband, looked up to by her daughter and worshiped by her Chirp. As the story goes on, you see the light go out and the strains of these relationships tested. So much so that when they snap the sound of the whip reaches out of the pages and makes you hurt with them. I wanted this book to be a buddy-buddy journey with Joey and Chirp finding birds and discovering themselves together. Something with a background music of flutes and harps not something with violins and clarinets.

              

I think Joey was meant to be an outlet for Chirp, something to distract her from what was happening in her own home but it sucked that Chirp wasn't more of an outlet for Joey. At the end of the book all we got from Joey was that he was a germ-a-phobe who had two mean brothers and a meaner dad with an itch to hit. We don't get to hope for a happy future for him, or that he may get out. I really wanted Joey to get some justice for what he was experiencing. In the end Chirp is reminded that she is not the only one hurting and through this it re-builds her world enough for her to return to it. What about Joey? Nothing changes. I couldn't help feeling that these were building blocks for a good house down the street murder mystery where Joey is the murder with a messed past that could have been changed if one little girl cared just a little bit more.

               

Nest will make you relive little moments from your youth, going to school, taking the bus, playing games that your siblings made up with you to kill time while the adults did what they needed to. It will also make you sad. The story makes you want to reach out to your parent and tell them you still love them. If you lost a parent and read this it will take you back to them for a moment. I gave it 3 out of 5 because I really wanted a friendly feel good book. Though this book gave me glances into the happiness they had, the meat and feels of it was the relationship of Chirp to her mother. 

REVIEW: Murder at the Brightwell (Amory Ames Mystery #1) by Ashley Weaver~ BEA 2014

Murder at the Brightwell (Amory Ames Mystery #1) by  Ashley Weaver

Publication Date: October 14, 2014

Publisher: Minotaur Books
Source: ARC received from Publisher at Book Expo America 2014
Guest Reviewer: Doris aka La Chiquita

Buy it at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

*This book was received from the publisher, but it did not influence this review in any way *

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Amory Ames is a wealthy young woman who regrets her marriage to her notoriously charming playboy husband, Milo. Looking for a change, she accepts a request for help from her former fiancé, Gil Trent, not knowing that she’ll soon become embroiled in a murder investigation that will test not only her friendship with Gil, but will upset the status quo with her husband.

Amory accompanies Gil to the Brightwell Hotel in an attempt to circumvent the marriage of his sister, Emmeline, to Rupert Howe, a disreputable ladies’ man. Amory sees in the situation a grim reflection of her own floundering marriage. There is more than her happiness at stake, however, when Ru[pert is murdered and Gil is arrested for the crime. Amory is determined to prove his innocence and find the real killer, despite attempted dissuasion from the disapproving police inspector on the case. Matters are further complicated by Milo’s unexpected arrival, and the two form an uneasy alliance as Amory enlists his reluctant aid in clearing Gil’s name. as the stakes grow higher and the line  between friend and foe becomes less clear, Amory must decide where her heart lies and catch the killer before she, too, becomes a victim.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. All the ingredients were there, 1930's era, British characters, murder mystery and a very alluring cover. All I could think of though was this is an interesting retelling of the movie "Clue."

The story is told by Amory Ames, an elite whose who of 1930's England who is married to Milo Ames, international playboy and wayward husband. I use wayward lightly. Milo is one of my favorite characters. Now don't judge me yet, read his lines first then tell me you don't want to smirk every time his name comes on the page.

"I hadn't expected to see you back so soon," I said. His last letter, an offhanded attempt at keeping me informed of his whereabouts, had arrived three weeks before and hinted that he would probably not return home until late July."Monte Carlo grew so tedious; I simply had to get away.""Yes," I replied. "Nothing to replace the dull routine of roulette, champagne, and beautiful women like a rousing jaunt to your country house for toast and coffee with your wife."
Without really meaning to do so, I had poured a cup of coffee, two sugars, no milk and handed it to him."You know, I believe I've missed you, Amory."Pg.2 

Amory fell in love with Milo when she was suppose to be planning her wedding to another. Now five years later she finds that the grass indeed wasn't greener on the other side. Amory is faced with the truth of her actions when she is asked a favor from her ex, Gil Trent. The pretense is that Gil wants Amory to go with him to The Brightwell Hotel to convince his sister away from mysterious and flirtatious Rupert.

The story tests the strain on Amory's marriage to Milo and her actual feelings for Gil. She is put in situations where she takes liberties that she knows she shouldn't but she feels she must to protect Gil from being prosecuted as the murder of Rupert. As the mystery is being unraveled Amory discovers that those things she felt were so black and white are really variant shades of gray. This is not just with the other characters in the book but with herself to.

The book has a steady pace, good character voices but nothing that really made it stand out as a contender. I found myself talking to Amory on occasion, begging her to listen to reason and not do or say the things she was about to. Also suppressing a giggle when the reality of the situation hits her and "all the pieces fall into place." I really wanted to just scream it was Mrs Plum in the hallway  with the candle stick!

This is book one for Ashley Weaver's series "Amory Ames Mysteries". Will I look for book two when it comes out? Of course! Why? Well I'm a sucker for Milo Ames and any dosage of him and his antics will help the simple plot line go down. 

REVIEW: Blackbird (Blackbird #1) by Anna Carey~ BEA 2014

Blackbird (Blackbird #1) by Anna Carey

Publication Date: September 16, 2014

Publisher: Harper Teen
Source: ARC received from Publisher at Book Expo America 2014

Buy it at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

*This book was received from the publisher, but it did not influence this review in any way *

My rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

This twisty, breathless cat-and-mouse thrill ride, told in the second person, follows a girl with amnesia in present-day Los Angeles who is being pursued by mysterious and terrifying assailants.

A girl wakes up on the train tracks, a subway car barreling down on her. With only minutes to react, she hunches down and the train speeds over her. She doesn’t remember her name, where she is, or how she got there. she has a tattoo on the inside of her wrist of a blackbird inside a box, letters and numbers printed just below: FNV02198. There is only one thing she knows for sure: people are trying to kill her.

On the run for her life, she tries to untangle who she is and what happened to the girl she used to be. Nothing and no one are what they appear to be. But the truth is more disturbing than she ever imagined.

First off, I did not like the second person POV. I didn't. I. Just. Didn't. It was just so hard to get into reading. My thought is that the author wanted to give the reader the feeling of actually being in the story, but that is definitely not the feeling I got while reading. Frustration. Frustration is the feeling that I got while reading this book. And yea, at some point I got over it and was able to really enjoy the story, but that annoyed feeling kept creeping up on me,

Second, I was very disappointed with the ending of the book. I had to remind myself that this series is a duology and not a stand alone. There were a few minutes of tantruming at the slight cliff hanger and then just pure hatred at the shocking plot twist that left me feeling completely unsatisfied. Of course, after the initial shock of everything, and much time spent mulling over it, I realized that I actually enjoyed the book way more than I thought I would. I also realized that the sequel is probably going to piss me off...and I just may love it! Hey what can I say, i'm an optimist!

But all sass aside, I really enjoyed the premise of the story. Going through this journey with Sunny (MC) was really interesting. I mean, can you imagine what it must feel like to wake up in the middle of a train track with an oncoming train and only seconds to react. Then, on top of that, you have NO IDEA who you are and you spend all this time trying to simultaneously stay alive while piecing the puzzle back together! Ummm, yea that just doesn't work for me! And as time goes by memories and realizations start to sink in and it's just completely crazy! So i'm happy that Sunny's (not her real name, she doesn't know who she is remember!?) story isn't over just yet. I feel like there's so much more that we need to figure out....and I feel like we need to do it together! So yea, even though it took a bit to get into, it still hooked me!