Review: Vanishing Girls - Lauren Oliver

Disclaimer:**I received this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Dara and Nick used to be inseparable, but that was before the accident that left Dara’s beautiful face scarred and the two sisters totally estranged. 
When Dara vanishes on her birthday, Nick thinks Dara is just playing around. But another girl, nine-year-old Madeline Snow, has vanished, too, and Nick becomes increasingly convinced that the two disappearances are linked. Now Nick has to find her sister, before it’s too late. 

In this edgy and compelling novel, bestselling author Lauren Oliver creates a world of intrigue, loss, and suspicion as two sisters search to find themselves, and each other.
GoodReads | Amazon


When I first started reading this book I thought that this was just going to be another book about sibling rivalry. I was expecting to read about how these two girls were at odds with each other ready to pull each other's hair out. Especially once I realized there was a boy to fight over. Oh, how wrong I was. 
Nick is the more responsible, sensible older sister who is trying to keep it all together while Dara is the beautiful, wild, care-free spirit who is constantly sneaking out and getting drunk God knows where with God knows who. They couldn't be more different if they tried. And up until the accident happens, their differences don't matter. Nick, Dara, and Parker (Nick's best friend and Dara's sometimes boyfriend) are like the three musketeers; there for each other through life's up and downs. After their accident that all ends. Nick and Dara are no longer speaking to each other or Nick. Everything seems uncomfortable yet manageable until nine year old Madeline Snow disappears. 
The disappearance of little Madeline Snow takes Nick on a journey to the darkest parts of her town and herself. What she discovers is nothing that anyone reading this will be expecting. The accident involving Nick, Dara, and Parker really does change the rest of their lives. This book took so many twists and unexpected turns that I couldn't put it down. The ending hit me like freight train because I was looking for something completely different to happen. 
Lauren Oliver is an amazing writer. Her ability to make you feel like you are inside a teenage girl's head, invading their thoughts, is uncanny. Her characters are beautifully written and feel like real, genuine people that you might come across on a day-to-day basis. Nick was definitely my favorite character. I identified with her a lot more than I did with Dara. I understand her need to keep things under control and keep the peace as much as possible. Dara's impulsiveness and affinity for trouble was off-putting and made me not want to like her. I did not like either one of the parents because of their lackluster attitude toward their teenage daughters. It really bothered me that Dara was allowed to get away with the things that she was doing because their parents weren't paying attention. I do think that those parents are very real characters, though. Especially parents who are going through a divorce and are having a hard time getting along for the sake of their children. An unfortunate circumstance for everyone involved. 
My favorite part of the story is when Dara makes it to the lighthouse. I can't say much more without giving away the ending but I felt like someone was squeezing my heart as I read through that part. The pain in the story was palpable and I *ALMOST* got the "ugly cries". I highly recommend this book for anyone who's had a sister, or someone so close that they feel like sisters, and have let something silly come in between them. This book will really make you appreciate the people in your life a lot more and will make you look at how you treat others in a different light. I highly recommend this book and I cannot wait to read more for Lauren Oliver. 
About the Author: 

Lauren Oliver is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Before I Fall and Panic and the stunning New York Times bestselling Delirium trilogy: Delirium, Pandemonium, and Requiem. She has also written two luminous novels for younger readers, The Spindlers and Liesl & Po. A graduate of the University of Chicago and NYU’s MFA program, Lauren Oliver lives in Brooklyn, NY.
LaurenOliverBooks.com | Facebook | GoodReads | Twitter | YouTube

REVIEW: Beyond Limits - Laura Griffin

***Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion. Any thoughts and opinions are my own***

An FBI agent and a Navy SEAL race against time in New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin’s newest Tracers novel. “Griffin delivers the goods!” (Publishers Weekly)

FBI agent Elizabeth LeBlanc is still caught in the aftermath of her last big case when she runs into the one man from her past who is sure to rock her equilibrium even more. Navy SEAL Derek Vaughn is back home from a harrowing rescue mission in which he found evidence of a secret terror cell on US soil. Elizabeth knows he’ll do anything to unravel the plot—including seducing her for information. And despite the risks involved, she’s tempted to let him. Together with the forensics experts at the Delphi Center, Derek and Elizabeth are closing in on the truth, but it may not be fast enough to avert a devastating attack…

Following in the bestselling tradition of the Tracers series, including Exposed, Scorched, and Twisted, Beyond Limits pulls out all the stops with Griffin’s most gripping thriller yet

This was an awesome book! 

Elizabeth LeBlanc's character portrays herself as this fiery, fiercely confident FBI agent but that persona comes crashing down as soon as Navy SEAL Derek Vaughn steps back into her life. Elizabeth and Derek have spent the past year away from each other but pining for each other. While Elizabeth kept herself busy trying to get over Derek, he spent his time trying to figure out how to get into her bed and into her heart. Elizabeth wants to keep it professional, Derek wants to take their relationship further. 

The whole time they are pushing and pulling against each other emotionally, they are knee-deep in trying to find terrorists who have managed to sneak in the United States through the Mexican border and are planning an attack in Houston, Texas. Derek wants to keep Elizabeth safe and protect her from any danger but he also wants revenge on these terrorists who are also responsible for the death of one of his SEAL brothers so he inserts himself into the FBI investigation and uses his connections in order to help Elizabeth find the terrorists and stop the attack. 

I really liked the dynamic between Elizabeth and Derek. You can tell that they both really care for each other but you can also sense the apprehension and the instinct they both have to protect themselves and each other. Elizabeth doesn't think she can handle the months away from Derek and not knowing where he is and what he's doing but Derek is sure he can't let her go. No matter how much Elizabeth tried to get Derek to back off and stay out of the investigation, he continues to find leads and step in at the last minute, not to rescue her but to help her. 

I liked that Derek worked well with Elizabeth instead of trying to rescue her. Yes, there were times that Derek did manage to rescue her but he didn't ever try to throw his weight around and make her feel like she was less because she was a woman. No, he doesn't like the danger involved with her work but the more he works with her the more he sees how strong and capable she is of handling the dangers of her job. 

The action and suspense in this book revolving around the terrorists and their plot was written very well. Their sneaky entrance into the US, their weapons, explosives, and their attack plot are all realistic and you can tell that Laura Griffin obviously did her homework. 

I spent half the book yelling for her to quit being so stubborn and just give in to her feelings for him. I think that was my only complaint about the book. I felt like Elizabeth held out too long for Derek when she could have spent more time enjoying time with him. Laura Griffin wrote this book really well and I cannot wait to read more of her work! 

BOOK REVIEW: The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg

***Disclosure: I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.***

Ceony Twill arrives at the cottage of Magician Emery Thane with a broken heart. Having graduated at the top of her class from the Tagis Praff School for the Magically Inclined, Ceony is assigned an apprenticeship in paper magic despite her dreams of bespelling metal. And once she’s bonded to paper, that will be her only magic…forever.

Yet the spells Ceony learns under the strange yet kind Thane turn out to be more marvelous than she could have ever imagined—animating paper creatures, bringing stories to life via ghostly images, even reading fortunes. But as she discovers these wonders, Ceony also learns of the extraordinary dangers of forbidden magic.

An Excisioner—a practitioner of dark, flesh magic—invades the cottage and rips Thane’s heart from his chest. To save her teacher’s life, Ceony must face the evil magician and embark on an unbelievable adventure that will take her into the chambers of Thane’s still-beating heart—and reveal the very soul of the man.

From the imaginative mind of debut author Charlie N. Holmberg, The Paper Magician is an extraordinary adventure both dark and whimsical that will delight readers of all ages.



I really, really, really, REALLY enjoyed this book! I was also very surprised that I enjoyed this book because I'm usually not into books like this. Charlie N. Holmberg masterfully crafted an amazing story full of magic and excitement. The idea of creating magic through materials really intrigued me. I wish that the reading part of the paper magic was real. I'd love to be able to read a story and have it come to life in front of me! I'm with Ceony on the paper skeleton, though. I'm not sure how excited I would be about a paper skeleton following me around my house.

My favorite part of the whole book was when Ceony ends up inside Magician Thane's heart. While it was sort of creepy, I thought it was an interesting way to tell Magician Thane's back story and show how the Excisioner tied into the story. Reading about Ceony traveling through the different chambers of his heart and learning about his life before her while she travels was exciting. I couldn't put the book down for that part!

I also loved Fennel, the little paper puppy dog, and Ceony's love for cooking. She was probably my favorite character in the whole story because she had such a strong personality but was able to open up her mind to Magician Thane in order to eventually change her mind about him and paper magic. If you're interested in magical tales, I would definitely recommend checking out The Paper Magician. (I hope this gets turned into a movie one day! I'd love to watch it!)

Book Review: Walking on Trampolines by Frances Whiting

*I received this book for free through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review* 

Praised as “a tender exploration of friendship, families, and first love” (Liane Moriarty, New York Times bestselling author of The Husband’s Secret), this coming-of-age novel from bestselling author Frances Whiting is equal parts heartwarming, accessible, and thought provoking.

“Tallulah de Longland,” she said slowly, letting all the Ls in my name loll about lazily in her mouth before passing judgment. “That,” she announced, “is a serious glamorgeous name.”

From the day Annabelle Andrews sashays into her classroom, Tallulah ‘Lulu’ de Longland is bewitched: by Annabelle, by her family, and by their sprawling, crumbling house tumbling down to the river.

Their unlikely friendship intensifies through a secret language where they share confidences about their unusual mothers, first loves, and growing up in the small coastal town of Juniper Bay. But the euphoria of youth rarely lasts, and the implosion that destroys their friendship leaves lasting scars and a legacy of self-doubt that haunts Lulu into adulthood.

Years later, Lulu is presented with a choice: remain the perpetual good girl who misses out, or finally step out from the shadows and do something extraordinary. And possibly unforgivable…

It’s not how far you fall, but how high you bounce.

There are very few books I have read that have moved me to tears. This one had me crying such big crocodile tears that I had to step away to collect myself. I wish I could have blamed the emotional outburst on hormones but it was most definitely this book. Frances Whiting is an amazing writer and did such an amazitastic job developing the characters to make them seem like real people. 
I adored Lulu and her family, relating very well to having a mother like Rose and a friend like Annabelle. Lulu's mild nature that she sees as a weakness really becomes her greatest strength as she carefully and lovingly takes care of the people around her. Instead of feeling like I was reading about an event after the fact, I felt like I was really there, really in that moment with Lulu and Duncan and Barney when they all laid down together. And I felt the heartbreak when he was gone. And again when Rose left.
 I loved how easily the book transitioned from Lulu's childhood to adulthood. I think that her relationship with Duncan was probably one of the most important events in her life because he forced to her to not only leave what was familiar to her but also to forgive herself for not being the person she thought she should be. Lulu's journey into adulthood is a rocky stumble through love, heartbreak, and the act of forgiving herself. 
Such a truly amazing story about love, friendship, forgiveness, heartbreak, and really finding one's happiness.

Find Walking on Trampolines here:  Amazon GoodReads

REVIEW: THE DEMETER CODE - RUSSELL BROOKS

**Disclaimer: I received a free copy of these books in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions on this book are my own.**

The Demeter Code gives you a front row seat into the world of CIA agents, Ridley Fox and Nita Parris. A company's secrets are stolen and sold. Thirteen U.S. soldiers are dead and the woman responsible claims she is innocent. People around the world are dying from an "allergic reaction". The company's secrets, the thirteen dead U.S. soldiers, and one of the worst terrorists known to U.S. authorities are all connected. But how? Follow Ridley and Nita on a wild, action packed journey to discover the truth. 

I could not put this book down! I love a good thriller and this has definitely made my favorite's list. The action starts from the very beginning and it doesn't let up until the end. I loved how fact-paced this book was! My heart was racing through this whole book and every time I thought I had figured out all of the connections, I was thrown another curve ball. 

The dynamic between Ridley, Nita, and their IT genius, Dewan, was so well-written that you felt like you were eavesdropping on an actual conversation instead of reading a book. While Ridley and Nita were the main characters of this story, I would have to say that Dewan was my favorite character hands down. His quick-wit and technical know how definitely make him the unsung hero in their group. Without him and his technical prowess, they wouldn't have gotten as far as they did in their quest for the truth. Katy Sparks, the woman accused of killing the thirteen U.S. soldiers, was also one of my favorites too but I could be a little bit biased since she's from Alabama as well. Her southern charm and gentility adds a softer element to the story. Especially when she and Ridley end up stuck together in a hotel room. 

Russell Brooks really did his research and was able to really bring this story to life through science and technology. I felt like I was reading a story that could have been ripped from today's headlines. If you're into spies, fast-paced action, plot twist and turns, and computer hacking, then I definitely recommend this book! 

Review: SEALs of Winter Box Set

**Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions on this book are my own.**

The SEALS of Winter is a collection of nine stories written by Cora Seton, Elle Kennedy, Jennifer Lowery, Elle James, Anne Marsh, S. M. Butler, Delilah Devlin, Kimberley Troutte, and Zoe York! All nine storys follow a SEAL on his journey to finding the love of his life, even if he wasn't really looking for love. Pour yourself a glass of wine, get cozy by a fire, and dive into this fabulous box set! 

I loved all 9 of these stories but I'm going to review my three favorites: 

The Navy SEAL's Christmas Bride - Cora Seton

This story had me laughing out loud at the antics between Dan Hemmins and Sarah Metlin. Sarah is bound and determined to prove that she's more than qualified to join special forces in the military and Dan is dead set on proving her wrong. What started out as a competition between soldiers quickly turns into a battle of the sexes that leaves them both hot and bothered. When Dan finally concedes that Sarah's an excellent soldier and an incredibly sexy woman, he stops at nothing to make her his forever. Between the competitions and the steamy sex scenes I couldn't stop reading until I got to the end. Sarah's determination is endearing and admirable. Dan's confidence and competitive edge made him oh so sexy! 

A SEAL for Christmas - Jennifer Lowery 

If I knew that I could meet someone like Donovan by getting hit by a car while riding my bicycle, I'd be on my way to buy a new bicycle! When Cloe gets hit by a crazy guy running a red light, Donovan quickly steps in to protect her from the guys insults. He even promises the EMTs to look after her since she refused to go to the hospital. One night of protection turns into a few days once the same crazy guy starts calling Cloe and threatening her, Donovan is determined not to let her out of his sight. Cloe, still apprehensive to letting people in after losing her family and her fiance last Christmas, is starting to slowly let Donovan into her heart. Donovan's multilingual seduction had me dreaming of Irish/Italian men! And his family was icing on the cake! They were like real people you want to go home and spend the holidays with!

SEALed Until Christmas - S.M. Butler

Jesse Richter and Charlie Morgan couldn't be more perfect for each other. Jesse, who is steal dealing with the death of his first love, believes that he can save everyone he comes across. Charlie, who has her own cross to bare, believes she doesn't need help from anyone. Little do they know that they are going to save each other from a lifetime of heartbreak and loneliness. Charlie's secrets may tear them apart but Jesse may just be strong enough to keep them together if he learns to let go of his guilt from the past. These two characters were so well-written that you could feel their emotions right along with them. You could fell the love between the two of them radiating off of the page. This was definitely one of my favorite stories in the collection! 

Please be sure to look up all of the wonderful authors who contributed to this collection. I've been cyber-stalking their websites since I finished these so that I can read their other works. And be sure to let them know how much you loved these stories after you read them!