Review: TATTOO ATLAS, by Tim Floreen

Tattoo Atlas was a whirlwind of emotions for me. I flew through this book, unable to pull away from the plot and characters. Tim Floreen has a knack for combining amazing storytelling, creative plot twists, and harrowing character relationships. After reading this book and Willful Machines, Floreen has easily jumped to the top of my list of favorite authors.

Stars: 5/5
Recommended for: Readers who love sci-fi thrillers that explore the complex aspects of human emotion make you think "What if?"

Review: ESCAPE FROM WITCHWOOD HOLLOW, by Jordan Elizabeth Mierek

Escape from Witchwood Hollow was an unexpected thrill ride for me. The book mainly bounces between three women during three different time periods in the same location. Jordan Elizabeth Mierek did a great job of emphasizing each character's unique qualities and placing the reader within each time period, whether historical or contemporary. The twists in the plot kept me locked into the story, eager to find out where it was headed. The only thing I didn't like about this book was the present-day character Honoria, who I found to be one-dimensional and unlikeable. Still, I enjoyed reading it and will recommend it to others.

Rating: 4/5
Recommended for: anyone who likes mysterious young adult fantasies.

Review: IN THE REARVIEW, by Maria Ann Green

The emotional conflict abounding in Maria Ann Green's IN THE REARVIEW will take your breath away. The main character's development and journey to rise above self-inflicted harm is powerfully realistic; I even caught myself gasping out loud more than once. Ms. Green writes beautifully and has a knack for breaking her readers' hearts before giving them hope, allowing her characters to struggle beyond recognition before they can begin to piece their lives back together. IN THE REARVIEW seamlessly weaves together prose and poetry to give readers a 360-degree view of an intense issue that deserves more recognition in young adult literature.

Stars: 5/5
Recommended for: Fans of unconventional storytelling and realistic contemporaries

Review: JERKBAIT, by Mia Siegert

JERKBAIT follows a pair of two very different twins, each struggling internally and externally with unique issues. This book is an amazing read for anyone interested in current issues surrounding teen athletes, or anyone who just enjoys well-written young adult contemporaries. It is full of vivid characters, sobering dilemmas, and bittersweet drama that will stick with the reader long after the final page.

Stars: 5/5
Recommended for: Those who love sports contemporaries and LGBT characters

Review: SIGNS OF ATTRACTION, by Laura Brown

Signs of Attraction is easily the best romance novel I’ve read in a long time. This story features a Deaf character (Reed) and a hard of hearing character (Carli), and follows their journey as they not only fall in love but also learn to define themselves. The writing, with its mixed feel of literary and contemporary, grabbed me from the start. Reed and Carli each have a unique voice that jumps off the page and encourages the reader to continue. In addition to the swoony romance, I also love the dark edginess of this story. Signs of Attraction has a deep, well-rounded plot that is sure to hook all readers interested in contemporary romances. I will definitely read all of Laura Brown’s future works; she’s an author to watch!

Stars: 5/5
Recommended for: Readers who enjoy dark romances with diverse characters

Review: IF I WAS YOUR GIRL, by Meredith Russo

Wow! Meredith Russo is an author to watch! If I Was Your Girl has everything you could ever ask for in a young adult book: great writing, a convincing dilemma, and solid character development. Forget that this book is about a trans character, because people of all ages can relate to the main character's struggles--of fitting in, of keeping secrets, of fearing what people think of you. I give 5 solid stars to this book, and I look forward to anything and everything Meredith Russo writes in the future.

Stars: 5/5
Recommended for: Lovers of contemporary fiction

Review: THE STAR-TOUCHED QUEEN, by Roshani Chokshi

The Star-Touched Queen is a beautiful piece of art that should not be missed. The lyrical tune of Roshani Chokshi's writing places her in the top of her field; it pulls the reader along like a song, allowing us to feast on a constellation of word choice. The plot is also striking and well-developed, with unexpected and clever twists. The author does a great job of immersing her readers into a unique and surreal setting that will not soon be forgotten.

Stars: 5/5
Recommended for: anyone interested in fantasy novels of non-Western cultures.

Cover Reveal: SIGNS OF ATTRACTION, by Laura Brown

I am VERY excited to reveal the cover of my dear friend Laura Brown's upcoming romance novel, SIGNS OF ATTRACTION. It is set to be released June 14, 2016, from Avon Impulse, but you can preorder now! I was graced with the opportunity to read one of the earliest versions of this story, and have watched it evolve in the time since. You don't want to miss this!

 

Do you know what hearing loss sounds like? I do.

All my life I've tried to be like you. I've failed.

So I keep it hidden.

But on the day my world crashed down around me, Reed was there.

He showed me just how loud and vibrant silence can be, even when I struggled to understand.

He's unlike anyone I've ever known. His soulful eyes and strong hands pulled me in before I knew what was happening.

And as I saw those hands sign, felt them sparking on me, I knew: imperfect could be perfect.

Reed makes me feel things I've never felt. It's exciting...and terrifying.

Because he sees me like no one else has, and I'm afraid of what he'll find if he looks too closely.

The only thing that scares me more than being with him? Letting him go.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Publisher Available for pre-order!

About the Author

Laura Brown lives in Massachusetts with her quirky abnormal family. Her husband’s put up with her since high school, her young son keeps her on her toes, and her three cats think they deserve more scratches. Hearing loss is a big part of who she is, from her own Hard of Hearing ears, to the characters she creates.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Review: DEAD RINGER, by Heidi Belleau and Sam Schooler

Just...wow. DEAD RINGER is addictive from beginning to end. If you're looking for a read with realistic characters and the perfect amount of erotica that toes the line between contemporary and historical, purchase this book! The writing is fantastic, and the plot is on point. I thoroughly enjoyed following the journey of both main characters, and couldn't help rooting for them from start to finish. I cannot wait to read more by Heidi Belleau and Sam Schooler!

Stars: 5/5
Recommended for: Lovers of New Adult LGBT stories and well-written sex

Review: THE SCATTERED AND THE DEAD (BOOK 0.5), by Tim McBain and L.T. Vargus

I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, and believe me when I say I was beyond excited for the opportunity. The chance to read a book that I'd been anticipating anyway? Count me in.

L.T. Vargus and Tim McBain have done it again—they’ve created a unique world with the strangest unexpected twists. THE SCATTERED AND THE DEAD takes place in the pre-apocalypse, while life as we know it falls apart around the main character. The story is rather soft and action-less, though it’s clear big things are coming in the sequel; this quick read is only getting the audience’s toes wet. As usual, Vargus and McBain have a distinctly original voice that emanates from the pages, sucking the reader in. Though the story itself is impressive, it’s the writing that makes this book stand out. Always engaging and never apologetic, THE SCATTERED AND THE DEAD is not to be missed! I look forward to being the first in line to read the rest of this series.

Stars: 5/5
Recommended for: Readers who love origin stories of the apocalypse (think: FEAR THE WALKING DEAD)

Review: OUT OF THE POCKET, by Bill Konigsberg

Let me start by saying I enjoyed OUT OF THE POCKET; the plot was intriguing and I'm happy with the message it presents. As usual, Bill Konigsberg does a great job of roping his readers in. However, I was disappointed to find that this book wasn't as good as OPENLY STRAIGHT and THE PORCUPINE OF TRUTH, which I read first. Though I applaud this story and will recommend it to others, the writing wasn't quite as tight as I would have expected.

Stars: 3.5/5
Recommended for: Anyone who enjoys sports stories

Review: CUT BOTH WAYS, by Carrie Mesrobian

CUT BOTH WAYS is addictive, emotional, and packed with layers. I had trouble putting this book down! It's easy to relate to the main character, Will, who has a touching and realistic perspective that will make any reader's heart break. Carrie Mesrobian has a way with narration, saying a lot with limited words. I was especially impressed with how she forces the reader to view each situation through the lens of the main character. I also strongly suggest reading the Author's Note at the end, which provides a lovely recap of Ms. Mesrobian's motivations.

Stars: 5/5
Recommended for:  Lovers of realistic contemporaries and LGBTQ teen fiction

Review: WRITTEN IN THE STARS, by Aisha Saeed

WRITTEN IN THE STARS is an engaging and intense story set in present-day Florida and Pakistan. The plot was simultaneously heartbreaking and thrilling, which is indicative of Aisha Saeed's creative talent. Though the characters were vastly different from myself, I related to many of them in ways I hadn't expected. I experienced a wide range of emotions while reading, from anger to happiness to hesitation, then back again.

Stars: 4/5
Recommended for: Anyone interested in contemporary stories about teenagers straddling two cultures.