Read For Your Future: February 2016

February 29, 2016

Review: Dream a Little Dream (Silber #1) by Kerstin Gier

Summary-

Mysterious doors with lizard-head knobs. Talking stone statues. A crazy girl with a hatchet. Yes, Liv's dreams have been pretty weird lately. Especially the one where she's in a graveyard at night, watching four boys conduct dark magic rituals.
The strangest part is that Liv recognizes the boys in her dream. They're classmates from her new school in London, the school where she's starting over because her mom has moved them to a new country (again). But what's really scaring Liv is that the dream boys seem to know things about her in real life, things they couldn't possibly know--unless they actually are in her dreams? Luckily, Liv never could resist a good mystery, and all four of those boys are pretty cute....

Review-

This book was extremely exquisite. The plots in it, and how fast they could turn was absolutely amazing. The characters and all the details in them as well were very nice. I had fallen in love with every character, and every one of their flaws. the detail in every scenery was amazing as well. I could picture exactly what was happening! I'm very pleased with this book, And I highly recommend it to absolutely anyone with any taste in anything. I am very excited for the next book to come out, That I can hardly wait!

Publisher-Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Reviewer Rating: 5 STARS!!!

Reviewed by~Carman Fickey (Student at Franklin High School)

Thank you to the publisher for the donation of this book to the Read for your Future book program in exchange for a honest review!!

Summary-

Willowgrove is Kathleen Peacock's riveting conclusion to the Hemlock trilogy, a dark, romantic, paranormal suspense series that pits friendship against survival, and trust against love.

Ever since Mac's best friend, Amy, was murdered, Hemlock has been a dangerous place. But now that Mac, her boyfriend, Kyle, and Amy's ex, Jason, have investigated a mass breakout from Thornhill, a werewolf "rehabilitation" camp, the danger has only grown. Fear of the infection spreading is now at an all-time high, and anyone with a scar is suspected of being a wolf.
What makes Mac even more afraid, though, are the dark experiments that the warden of Thornhill was performing on wolves in a secret asylum called Willowgrove. Uncovering the truth about what happened may be the only way for Mac to save everyone she loves and end her nightmares for good.

Review-

Willowgrove was a fantastic, fast-paced, exhilarating read. Although this was the third in the Hemlock series, author Kathleen Peacock weaves the previous book's plot into this story so the reader can easily keep up. Mackenzie, the protagonist, is a strong female role model and a tough little cookie! And of course there are plenty of hot male characters;) Peacock writes a suspenseful plot full of twists and turns, betrayal and loyalty. The characters are all sympathetic figures, even the bad guys, as Peacock delves into their inner psyches and gives the reader a glimpse of their backstories. A five-star read and a series to keep your eye on!

Publisher-Katherine Tegen Books

Reviewer Rating: 5 STARS!!!

Reviewed by~Cindi Clubbs

Thank you to the publisher for the donation of this book to the Read for your Future book program in exchange for a honest review!!

Summary-

In 2021 the world as we know it changed. The government collapsed, and the worst characteristics of human nature were shown as the world fell into ruins. Years after The Fall, the Tribes that were established are still at war. They still fight to keep what they pillaged, and most of all, they fight to keep their lies a secret. In a world filled with deception, nothing is as it seems.

I was born into this world.
Hunter Marks was molded into this world; a General— a person cold and harsh. A person meant to kill me.
We were told to just believe.
We were taught to never question.
We’re supposed to be robots and accept our roles in this altered society.
Too bad Hunter and I don’t follow the rules.
And we’re a hell of a lot stronger than they ever thought possible.
They’ve been searching for the world’s deadliest weapon.
It’s me.
And I’m not following the leader any more.

Review-In Between Seasons, The Fall Series, is a great romance, heavy on the romance, that takes place in 2041 after the Fall of the government. Kate and Hunter are children of Tribal leaders and are, basically, Romeo and Juliet--forbidden love with both families wanting Kate dead. The romantic tension between the star-crossed lovers is sweet and tragic as Kate and Hunter both find themselves changing from the puppets their parents created to two people who can find love in the midst of a war-torn world. As in any story of war, there are tensions and suspicions, betrayal and secret allies. I personally enjoy not knowing who the good guys and bad guys are. It makes for a bit of excitement. And there were DEFINITELY a few surprises! The ending was terrific but didn't hint at what direction Giovanni is going to take with the next book in the series. I'll be looking forward to the next installation:)

Publisher-Show n'ot Tell Publishing

Reviewer Rating: 4.5 Stars

Reviewed by~Cindi Clubbs

Thank you to the publisher for the donation of this book to the Read for your Future book program in exchange for a honest review!!

Summary-

Katelyn Michaels plans on hating every moment of her visit to Mont Saint Michel with her father’s new French wife. Once there, she is confused when she experiences sensations of déjà vu as she and her younger brother explore the medieval village and abbey. She is even more disturbed when she is confronted by two unusual young men, one who insists she has a sacred mission, and the other who will stop at nothing, even murder, to prevent her from fulfilling her destiny.

When the oddly-dressed but alluring Nicolas slips Katelyn a strange medallion, she is whisked back through time where her Watchmen hosts tell her she is the only hope to save Mont Saint Michel. Even worse, she learns that those trying to destroy the mount are led by a fallen angel intent on learning the mount's closely-guarded secret.
Katelyn is torn by feelings of anger at being taken back in time, inadequacy at finding a modern solution for a medieval problem, and responsibility for the mount’s starving inhabitants. She is also perturbed by her surprising attraction to the ill-tempered Nicolas. Will she stay to learn why she was chosen by the Archangel Michael and find a way to save his mount?

Review-

Author Kathleen C. Perrin combines religion, history, romance, and adventure in a story that will entertain and entrance readers. Heroine Katelyn Michaels travels back in time to become the modern, electronically-aided version of Joan of Arc alongside handsome Nicholas, the young Frenchman who brings Katelyn back to 1424. In order to return to a world that's based on Freedom, Katelyn must stop being a typical 17-year-old girl and instead become a leader of a ragtag French village, saving them from the English army and from one of Satan's own evil minions. I devoured this book within several days because Perrin created such wonderful and sympathetic characters, I absolutely had to find out what happened to the villagers of Mont Saint Michel and to Katelyn and Nicholas. The historical event that this novel is based on was just an extra little goody in a plot chock-full of excitement. A must-read for anyone wanting an edge-of-your-seat plot that includes some brilliant military strategy involving an ipod, camera, and computer.

Publisher-Langon House

Reviewer Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewed by~Cindi Clubbs

Thank you to the publisher for the donation of this book to the Read for your Future book program in exchange for a honest review!!!

Summary-

A continuation of the Twin Willows Series that began with WINTER FALLS...
The Twin Willows Waterfall is now under the control of the Benandanti, but for Alessia, the victory comes at a steep price. And the arrival of Nerina, one of the seven Concilio elders from the Friuli Clan, only complicates her life. Now she’s hiding a 450-year-old immortal on her farm, juggling school and her increasingly frustrated friends, and trying to keep the Malandanti from regaining the Waterfall. But it’s the passion that still lingers between her and Jonah that really keeps Alessia awake at night.
After a fatal visit from the Malandanti’s mage, Alessia brings in Jonah’s twin sister, Bree, to serve as a Benandanti spy. Bree has her own reasons for wanting to bring down the Malandanti, and soon she and Alessia find themselves in a tenuous alliance. But not even the powerful magic that Bree possesses nor the strong leadership that Nerina provides can stop the vicious Malandanti. As the two Clans barrel towards their inevitable collision, Alessia and Jonah are swept into the devastation and forced to make the ultimate choice.

Review-

The quote on the cover of this book reads "The highly anticipated sequel..." They must have been talking about me! I read Winter Falls last year and loved it--I couldn't WAIT for book two to come out. I wasn't disappointed. In The Mouth of the Wolf is even better than I could have hoped for. In book one, we meet shape-shifting Benandati heroine, Alessia, her forbidden Malandanti boyfriend, Jonah, and Jonah's angry, emo twin sister, Bree. In book two, the problems that the three teens face because of their respective shape-shifting clans get even more exhilarating and dangerous. The choices they make are brave, bold, and far more adult than a teen should have to make. Relationship problems, family issues, deep secrets kept from best friends, In The Mouth Of The Wolf delves even deeper into the secret world of the ancient Benandati and Malandati clans and illustrates the difficulty of being a supernatural creature at night, while being a normal teen during the day. Author Nicole Maggi relates so well to the teenaged crowd while creating a magical story of good and evil, magical creatures and mystical lands. Thoroughly enchanting story!

Publisher-Medallion Media Group

Reviewer Rating: 5 STARS!!!

Reviewed by~Cindi Clubbs

Thank you to the publisher for the donation of this book to the Read for your Future book program in exchange for a honest review!!!

Summary-

Horror has a new name: introducing Courtney Alameda.
Micheline Helsing is a tetrachromat—a girl who sees the auras of the undead in a prismatic spectrum. As one of the last descendants of the Van Helsing lineage, she has trained since childhood to destroy monsters both corporeal and spiritual: the corporeal undead go down by the bullet, the spiritual undead by the lens. With an analog SLR camera as her best weapon, Micheline exorcises ghosts by capturing their spiritual energy on film. She's aided by her crew: Oliver, a techno-whiz and the boy who developed her camera's technology; Jude, who can predict death; and Ryder, the boy Micheline has known and loved forever.
When a routine ghost hunt goes awry, Micheline and the boys are infected with a curse known as a soulchain. As the ghostly chains spread through their bodies, Micheline learns that if she doesn't exorcise her entity in seven days or less, she and her friends will die. Now pursued as a renegade agent by her monster-hunting father, Leonard Helsing, she must track and destroy an entity more powerful than anything she's faced before . . . or die trying.

Review-

Author Courtney Alameda introduces Micheline Helsing, a modern-day emo, entity-fighting descendant of the original Van Helsing clan. At 17, she has been hailed as a hero for making incredible kills of both ghosts and zombies. However, as any good hero must, poor Micheline has suffered a devastating loss which has thrown her into a dark place of doubt and defeat. In Shutter, Micheline and her three best friends (yes, HOT GUYS) face the most deliciously horrific challenge--a ghost that is almost unbeatable and viciously blood-thirsty. Shutter races at a pace that is heart-stopping excitement, exhilarating as a roller coaster ride. The characters are well-developed, the action is WILD, the creatures are creepy (scorpion-type zombie creations), and the weaponry and training are thoroughly thought out. What an incredible book--I seriously hope it will be a series!!!

Publisher-Feiwel & Friends

Reviewer Rating: 5 STARS!!!

Reviewed by~Cindi Clubbs

Thank you to the publisher for the donation of this book to the Read for your future book program in exchange for a honest review!!

Summary-

When Alyson meets Graham Copeland, the new boy next door, she instantly feels like he’s a kindred spirit—shy and awkward like her, someone who has trouble making friends. It’s impossible to resist having a crush on him.
As usual, her sister, Sydney, sees things differently. In Sydney's mind, Graham's odd personality and secretive past scream psychopath, not sweetheart. Her gut is telling her to stay away from him, and to protect a love-struck Alyson from her own naïveté. But despite her instincts, Sydney is surprised to realize that a part of her is drawn to Graham, too.
And the more Sydney gets to know him, the more she realizes just how right—and wrong—she is about everything.
Perfect for fans of Michelle Hodkin, and E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars, Twisted Fate is an unputdownable novel, teeming with suspense.

Review-

The title for this book is very apt--it's a totally twisted (and awesome) story! I walked away from the book shaking my head in disbelief. Author Norah Olson packs a zinger of a surprise, not only at the end but throughout the entire read. Literally, YOU WON'T SEE WHAT'S COMING! The premise is a love triangle between two sisters and a new, gorgeous neighbor boy who is hiding some terrible secrets. Told through emails, diary entries, and chapters narrated by different characters, it's an incredibly well thought out plot. Seemingly a normal story of a boy who takes ADHD medication and an emo girl with the 'perfect' and perfectly annoying sister, this story has shocking secrets simmering under the surface. I GUARANTEE that you will never guess what this Fantabulous author has in store for you!

Publisher-Katherine Tegen Books

Reviewer Rating: 5 STARS!!!

Reviewed by~Cindi Clubbs

Thank you to the publisher for the donation of this book to the Read for your Future book program in exchange for a honest review!!

Summary-

A hot debut trilogy and a riveting story of survival, courage, and romance in a future where creating a master civilization is the only thing prized, no matter the method. After the Omega (the end of the end), 16 year old guys known as LTs discover their overseers are raising them not to be soldiers (lieutenants) as promised, but to be sold as bait because of their Less Than status and hunted for sport. They escape and join forces with a girls’ camp, the Sisters, who have been imprisoned and experimented on for the "good of the Republic," by a government eager to use twins in their dark research. In their plight for freedom, these heroes must find the best in themselves to fight against the worst in their enemies.

Review-

The Prey is such a wonderful example of a dystopian future as dictated if Hitler were still alive. A tall, blonde, ex-model decides to take over the United States and put Less Thans--anyone with different skin color, deformities, or radiation marks--in a camp where they become prey. I won't give any plots away by stating more than that. However, there are so many plot twists that the reader will be reeling by the end of the book! The characters are tragic, brave, selfless and selfish. Author Tom Isbell does an excellent job imagining how people will act when faced with the downfall of our government. And the cliffhanger at the end....you know I love a good cliffhanger! The Prey is five star and I don't doubt that Isbell's follow-up will be as exciting, fast-paced, and tense as is first book.

Publisher- Harperteen

Reviewer Rating: 5 STARS!!!

Reviewed by~Cindi Clubbs

Thank you to the publisher for the donation of this book to the Read for your Future book program in exchange for a honest review!!!

Summary-

From slavery abolitionist William Wilberforce to Olympic gold medalist Eric Liddell, great men throughout history have left an example for us to look to. Elder David S. Baxter takes a closer look at the characteristics and attributes of good men so that you can apply them too. He acknowledges that there are no perfect men, but the works and attributes of good men have profound effects. There is no end to the good that a man can do!

Review-

A beautiful and well-written book by a leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, What Good Men Do contains small character sketches of six interesting men. An Olympic runner, a philosopher, and a famous doctor/missionary, among others. After each sketch, author David S. Baxter explains why each man is significant. Baxter explains what can be learned from the example of each man's selfless and Godly life. The book is short but powerful and would be a wonderful read for any young man or woman as an illustration of how each and every person in this world can contribute to society, no matter their background, education, upbringing or financial status. A five plus star book!!

Publisher-Cedar Fort Publishing & Media

Reviewer Rating: 5 Stars'

Reviewed by~Cindi Clubbs