Review of Hope in the Rain by Sandy Sinnett

Synopsis:
‘But as I stood there, feeling the pain of unfulfilled dreams, all I could do was cry harder and harder, inconsolable as I thought about the uncertain future in front of me. My hot tears mingled with the cold rain and I shouted up into the sky – calling out for him, praying he would hear me somehow. I’m so sorry I let you go – I’m sorry I didn’t tell you! I love you!’

Laci Kramer believes that good things follow the rain – how it washes away the old and brings in the new. Since losing her husband of 24 years, her life revolves around her kids and her job. But on one rainy day in July, aboard a flight back home, something good sits down right next to her and changes her life forever.

Mitch Young is a widower from North Carolina. Hope is a useless commodity since losing his wife to breast cancer three years ago. That's until he meets Laci, and she becomes an unexpected surprise he can't resist. Laci and Mitch both learn to love again and an old-fashioned romance ensues. Romance meets reality however, when their relationship falls under scrutiny from Mitch's family and Laci is faced with the toughest challenge of her life.

Will she allow God to see them through the storms ahead or will she let Mitch go to spare him from repeating the same pain from his past? Laci begins to lose hope in love and life...until it rains. (Taken from Goodreads)

Stars Given:★★★☆☆

Overall View:
I am honestly not sure what I want to say about this book.  Although I did enjoy it, there were just some parts that I found a little boring, or irritating.  I loved the characters, but Laci just got onto my nerves at times.  I didn't understand why she did what she did at times, and I felt as if she hadn't matured or developed at all until the end of the book.  I admire the fact that Mitch pulled through, even during the storms, because I can only imagine how hard it was for him.  I also liked Evan and Caleb's characters.  They did a good job as supporting characters, compared to Mitch's brother.  What I didn't like about the book was how long it took for the readers to see the problem.  I had to read over half of the book to find out what the big problem is, which was them crammed into a few chapters, and was resolved in about two or three pages.  Although the plot of the book is simple, yet interesting enough for me to pick up the book, the book just started out really slowly.  I began to scan through a few of the pages, just because I was really excited to find out where the action will begin.  Overall, this was a very sweet and loving story, but its not something that I would crave about too much.

Character:
Laci -
Description of Character: Laci has lots her husband a few years ago in a car accident, and all she has left are her children.  Laci is an upbeat woman who is willing to sacrifice anything for her children.  When grieve strikes her, she feels like she is unable to find love again, but then she meets Mitch.  She quickly falls in love again, but is unsure whether or not it will work out.


Review of Character: I tried my best to like Laci but it was difficult at times because of her stubbornness.  Is that a good thing?  Maybe.  I loved the sweet romance between Laci and Mitch.  Their love story was very believable is certain aspects, but most of it was very predictable.  Its hard to say a lot without having to spoil the story, but Laci does progress a little throughout the story.  She is a great character, although I wasn't in love with her.  She is very strong, which is different from many books because they always portray female protagonists as "weak".  As you can tell, I had a difficult time assessing Laci because I honestly have two different opinions about her.

*Supporting characters not listed

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EBR Guest Review: Discovering Daniel by Nadine Christian (Angela Vasquez)

EBR Guest Reviewer: Angela Vasquez

Synopsis:
When a shocking memory surfaces that Ava McCoy can't understand, she looks for answers. With her parents and her Uncle Sam trying to convince her that she is only chasing dreams, she is determined to prove that they are wrong, the vision too vivid in her mind to be anything but truth. When her investigation reveals another world so shocking and yet so familiar, it feels as if the pieces of the puzzle are starting to come together - with only one question left unanswered. Who is Daniel? The very memory of him draws her to the sea. Then, the ocean brings her the answer she's seeking. Daniel himself. United, Daniel and Ava must find out why everyone wanted to keep them apart - and who is now trying their best to do it again. They must find the answers - before they succeed. Before Ava loses Daniel all over again - this time, forever. (Taken from Goodreads)





Stars Given:★★★☆☆ (3 Stars)

Overall View:

***this book was given to me by the author through Ethereal Book Reviews (Guest Reviewer Program)***

Well I have a hard time finishing this book, but we are not going to start with that.

Let's do something better.

Ava hasn’t seen Daniel, in a long time, she hasn’t even remembered the day she met him, but she remembers and never forget him. Now Ava is a 17 years old girl, she lives in the Pitcairn Islands, with her parents, and her uncle and aunt, but when her father gets sick again, and has to travel to New Zealand to receive treatment, she starts to think that maybe her life it's not that normal at all.
 
There's something missing about her such as the day when the accident happened, which she barely remembers.  When she starts looking, everything seems messy, including a boy named Daniel. But now, she knows why nobody wants to tell her the things she forgot, it's because it is
something bigger than she needs to know. She needs to find him, no matter the cost. When she does she can't believe it, Daniel it’s a mermaid or better mer-male. They can't see each other because that draws problems to each one of their worlds. But, after seeing him she know she can't stop. They fall in love with each other, but as a couple, it started to cause problems. Daniel loves his world and he’s not ready to leave it, and Ava would never ask him that. The mer-males can change their form from mermaids to “walkers “, but the female has one choice, is it mermaid or human.

But everything has its consequences, and Daniel and Ava had to deal with them. And sometimes the people you trust most are the ones who are making things happen. So, a journey starts and there’s no security about what can happen to neither of both.

I liked a lot of thing about this book, such as the relationship that Ava has with her family. We also got to see how  life is when you live on an island, and of course I loved the mermaid world, it was amazingly described.  The city of Zeno I mean wow, the transformation that they had to  go through to enter different worlds were so explicit, ouch!! It was a good book, perfect for teens, my deal is that it was really slow, and when things really started to happen, it was really quick, you didn't have time to digest everything. But it was good and had so much cuteness in the love they share. I liked that the decision that Ava made was deeply though about first and that she is not a dump girl that fall for the guy, it's more complex than that.

I will give it 3 stars because I love this couple and the whole mermaid world was well explained, I could imagine myself down there in the ocean.

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EBR Guest Review: Awakening Foster Kelly by Cara Olsen (Emily-Ann Walsh)

EBR Guest Reviewer: Emily-Ann Walsh

Synopsis:
If only a pile of wayward curls and the inability to stay on her feet were seventeen year-old Foster Kelly’s most pressing concerns. Unfortunately, stubborn hair and clumsiness is just the tip of it. It was only a mistake, but when at the age of five Foster is told “You don’t belong here” the result is one broken heart. These four carelessly spoken words have shaped and shadowed Foster, and now—a senior at Shorecliffs High School—she seeks the wallflower’s existence, denying herself the most casual of friendships, much too afraid that someone will see what Foster believes is certain: she does not belong anywhere – or with anyone. This reality would continue to suit her just fine, however . . .

Love has a long-standing history of undoing broken hearts.

Like a comet, an unexpected arrival knocks Foster out of the crowded, starry sky, sending her directly into the limelight. Exposed and afraid, she will attempt to regain anonymity; but it isn’t so easy now that someone is watching. He pursues this shy enigma, confronting Foster’s deepest fears head-on, and in the process falls wholly and completely in love with her. But there is something he is not saying; a secret capable of certain ruin. There are two probable outcomes: either he will break her heart once and for all, or he will heal it.

In the end, though, it is Foster who must decide if she is worth mending.  (Taken from Goodreads)

Stars Given:★★★☆☆ (3 Stars)

Overall View:

***this book was given to me by the author through Ethereal Book Reviews (Guest Reviewer Program)***

I have to say this was a long book, an unnecessarily long book. I would be reading and my eyes would wonder off the page and then I would have my own daydreams. It kind of reminded me of how use to try and I mean try to study for biology when I was in high school (that was so long ago, oh how I don’t miss it). The same bloody thing would happen. I would read a whole page and not know what in flaming hell I just read. This wasn’t a bad book, but it wasn’t really all that good either.

Foster would explain every little thing. I couldn’t follow the dialog because she would analyze for like two pages and then I would forget what the hell was said in the first place. There was no proper flow for most of it; but, there is a but, at the times that there was some pretty good dialog, I actually get into the story, because it flowed.

 I’m not going to lie, I speed read a lot throughout this book, because frankly, I found it a bit boring. I just couldn’t get into it; there was just too much description. I’m pretty sure if you cut out all the filler (because come-on that’s what it was) you would have a very good book at about 300 pages.

When the love interest finally came a barging in, at about, I don’t know, almost half way into the book, (he’s a total asshat) it did get a tiny bit more interesting. It prompted me to actually finish the book and not skip to the end, (Believe me it crossed my mind on more than on occasion) and to me, when Dominic finally enters, it was like the story finally got underway, still remarkably slowly though.

The ending didn’t really throw me that much, I kind of had it figured out that she was either one of two things. I will not say them because it will spoil the ending. That ending did save the book for me, thus why I’m giving it a 3 star rating instead of a 2 star.

If you are going to read this book, note that you don’t have to read every single paragraph, you aren’t missing much of anything form the main story. It’s just filler and babble, which Foster spurts while trying to state the obvious. For this book it’s all about the ending, even if you’re going to have to push yourself to reach it. (This is actually a little ironic, read the book and you’ll know what I’m saying.)

My overall impression, I’m happy the book is over.

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EBR Guest Review: Heart Tales by Celine Garcia (Yvonne)

EBR Guest Reviewer: Yvonne

Synopsis:

Three charming tales of that never ending roller coaster called life, each one sure to pack a sweet punch of candy for the heart. One story involves a girl and a mystery box with handwritten song lyrics. The second follows a guy on the road with memories of the girl that got away, and finally a teen girl who can actually speak to the source of her angst…her heart.

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/QMcpG6QUz98

Audio Frequency
Geraldine works the counter at Audio Frequency, a small music store that was once the hub of the local music scene. The best part of her day is a little brown box that is delivered to the store with song lyrics written inside, a playful guessing game between a mystery guy who seems to totally get her. Geraldine finds she is ready to make big changes at Audio Frequency and thankfully her best friend Sam just scored her a ticket to the biggest music benefit in town. Geraldine may get everything she wants when she discovers that her mystery guy may be at the event.
A sweet little story about friendship, expectations, and the leaps that must be made to take the love you want.

Legal U Turn
Gwen and Dean share an awkward drive home for their first college break because of convenience. But with hate comes a confiding friendship that may mean more to Dean. After his true feelings slip during a trip home, his friendship with Gwen ends abruptly and they don’t speak or see each other again.

Two years later Dean finds himself driving the same route he and Gwen used to take home years ago and it’s accompanied with the best memories of Gwen. A journey filled with a fun combo of memorable road trips and not so great first impressions causes Dean to wonder, is there a possibility of rekindling one of his greatest friendships?

Heart Set on You
A funny thing happened to Ellie when she woke after her heart transplant. Her donor didn’t exactly die. Instead he stayed behind to both of their confusion and can only be seen by Ellie. Ellie is unable to make friends at school and her only confidant is her heart donor, who she coincidentally nicknames Heart. After thinking she would always be socially challenged, she comes across someone who could change everything. Can this new someone help free Ellie and Heart from their bond? Or will new feelings arise that neither of them expected?

A unique story that reveals how friends can compliment and challenge each other told with fun sarcastic humor and heart. (Taken from Goodreads)

Stars Given: ★★★☆☆ (3 Stars)

Overall View:

***this book was given to me by the author through Ethereal Book Reviews (Guest Reviewer Program)***

My Rambles
While reading this review please keep in mind that I'm not a big fan of the romance genre, and this might have influenced my opinion of Heart Tales in a negative way. If you enjoy the genre in general, make sure to give this collection of short stories a try! Heart Tales includes in total three stories: Audio Frequency, Legal U Turn and Heart Set On You. All three stories have that romance feel written all over them, and will be a delight to read for those who enjoy the genre. The first two titles mentioned have both incorporated the theme of friends falling in love, while Heart Set On You is about loss, forgiveness and finding peace of mind. All in all they make for cute little stories, although I have to admit in general the characters felt a bit flat and some of the actions quite cliche. But then again: this kind of romance stories just aren’t for me...

Audio Frequency
Geraldine works at a small music store and frequently receives boxes filled with music material sent by the local radio. The music is not the most interesting part of the boxes though, as someone at the radio is communicating with her through a lyrics guessing game. Dying to find out who the mystery man is, she asks her friend Sam to investigate. But Sam doesn't have to look far to find him...It's quite a cliche story about a friendship turning into something else, but I liked the fact that Geraldine wants to move forward and become a co-owner of the music store. It shows that deep inside she is woman with a mission, even though finding the mystery man is still the most important part of the story. The lyrics that Celine Garcia used were a neat detail and added dept to the music theme of Audio Frequency. In fact, the lyrics were the reason I prefer this story over the other two!

Legal U Turn
Gwen and Dean started of the wrong foot, mostly tolerating their mutual company because they had no other option. But being forced to ride together a friendship is slowly starting to grow... A friendship that for Dean turned into something more, but just as the truth came out something terrible happens. Dean's father dies and Dean was too late to say goodbye. Angry with Gwen, he disappears for two years. Then he goes back to the places they went to those two years ago and remembers all the good things about her.

 

This story is not my overall favorite, but it came in close second. Dean is an interesting character I could see being developed into a novel character...As is the storyline itself. Legal U Turn is not only about friendship turning into love, but also about loss and second chances. It would be interesting to read more about the life of Gwen and what she felt during those two years... And what would happen to the two of them after they meet again.

Heart Set On You

After Ellie had her heart transplant, something strange happened to her: she started to see the dead boy who gave her her new heart. She is the only one who can see and talk to him, and soon people around her think she is 'weird'. The boy who is called Heart never goes far away and tries to protect her from harm... When Seth starts to take interest in Ellie, things take an interesting turn: suddenly Seth is being able to see Heart as well. Heart now has the mission to bring Ellie and Seth together, so he can find closure and move on to the next life... Seeing it as his obligation to find her happiness before he leaves forever.

This last story doesn't fit in with the other two stories and I cannot say it was in a good way. I normally don't mind paranormal stories or a ghost as a main character, but I just didn't feel it with this one. Otherwise said, the story wasn't really believable. I found both the name and the white T-shirt with the fading red heart Heart is wearing rather tacky, and the other characters just felt a bit flat. The general storyline has a lot of potential, and it might have worked better as a novel... Although I would makes some serious changes to the Heart character. All in all my least favorite story by far!

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EBR Guest Review: My Soul Immortal by Jen Printy (Julia Goudreau)

EBR Guest Reviewer: Julia Goudreau

Synopsis:
An endless love, for an endless price.

Jack’s immortality is exposed when he prevents a liquor store heist, forcing him to flee to protect his secret—a secret not even he understands. But when he meets Leah Winters—a mirror image of his decades-lost love, Lydia—his very soul is laid bare. He begins to question his sanity. Is she real, and if so, what does that mean for Jack and his secret?

Jack’s not the only mystery man in town. A stranger named Artagan hints at knowledge Jack is desperate to possess. But can he trust Artagan, or does the dark newcomer harbor deadly secrets of his own?

As Jack’s bond with Leah grows, so does the danger to her life. Jack must discover just how much he is willing to risk in order to save the woman he already lost once.  (Taken from Goodreads)

Stars Given:
★★★☆☆ (3 Stars)

Overall View:
**I received a copy of this book through the Guest Reviewers program at Ethereal Book Reviews (check out that blog people!). I would like to thank Jen Printy as well as Ethereal Book Reviews for the chance to read this novel!**
So, we start off this novel with a really depressed Jack. He is an immortal who lost his true love/soul mate and his family a long time ago. He really wants to die but he is immortal, so he can't. Then (plot twist alert!), he sees this girl name Leah. The really creepy thing is that she looks just like Jack's soul mate. This revelation then proceeds to open a whole new can of worms for both Jack and Leah.

I feel really bad for Jack. He has been on his own for a very long time and he doesn't believe in anything. He has seen everyone die around him and he feels like there is no happiness left in the world for Jack. So, naturally when he meets Leah, he is freaked out. But, as he gets to know her and the start to fall in love, Jack learns new things about his immortality. Suddenly, he can't enjoy the happiness that Leah has brought him because he has no hope for the future. For me, that was the saddest part of the book. The fact that Jack couldn't hold on to the happiness that he had and he couldn't hope.

The plot is a little bit predictable but that's ok. Honestly, the plot was what I expected. When I sat down to read this book, I didn't expect some super complex problem that I would have to figure out. I sat down to read a simple book that was easy to follow. At the same time, the intrigue towards what Jack's immortality means as well as why Leah looks so much like Lydia was really interesting. It added to the story and created even more interest towards the plot. There was a nice balance between the romance and the developments with Jack's immortality situation. It means that the romance didn't get to the eye-roll stage and the developments didn't overtake the love story.

Overall, I quite enjoyed "My Soul Immortal". I loved the ending! Printy created some suspense so the readers want to read the next book in the series (I would love to see what happens in the next one!). It was the right balance of romance and supernatural and the readers can connect with the characters. Printy does a great job of reeling you into her novel and she doesn't let you go until the very last page!

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EBR Guest Review: A Native's Tongue by Michael D. Dennis (Angela Vasquez)

EBR Guest Reviewer: Angela Vasquez

Synopsis:
A Native’s Tongue, by Michael D. Dennis, was published in June 2014 and is available for sale on Amazon in ebook and paperback, and on Barnes & Noble

“A Native’s Tongue is about a young man trying to find his way in the world. He struggles to keep the woman he loves while entangled in the sex, drugs, and tragedy of Los Angeles. It was inspired by real events,” says Dennis.

Charlie Winters has never been an overachiever. He is used to just getting by while living with his single mother and working a dead-end job at a cheesesteak stand.

Meanwhile, he’s constantly grappling with the voice of his sister, who died in a tragic car accident years earlier, echoing in his head.

So when Violet, an older woman, sets her sights on Charlie and refuses to let go, he follows along. He soon finds himself immersed in a destructive relationship that still fails to fill the void within him.

But then he meets Jennifer, a mystical young woman whose energy and life convinces Charlie to pursue her, even through the darkest corners of Los Angeles, and sets their lives upon a path that can’t be stopped.

Escaping to the California coast, Charlie and Jennifer finally find what they’ve always needed. But a sudden illness quickly pulls them both back to LA. It is there, amid the sex, drugs, and split-second decisions that pulse through the city, that tragedy strikes—threatening to tear Charlie and Jennifer apart forever.

Love and tragedy collide in Dennis’s poignant new novel, A Native’s Tongue. (Taken from Goodreads)

Stars Given: ★★★☆☆ (2.7 Stars)

Overall View:

***this book was given to me by the author through Ethereal Book Reviews (Guest Reviewer Program)***

A native's tongue is a story of manipulation, lies, and people who definitely aren't sane.

 Charlie is a young man struggling in his life, he doesn't know what his going to do with it, with a job that it's not going anywhere; he wants to find the trail to a good life. But there's something that it's tormenting Charlie's mind and it's his sister, she passed away a long time, but her soul still remains, she appears like a ghost in certain moments of Charlie's days. So went he meets Violet he decide to go for it, they aren't good for each, he knows that he never is going to love her, but he doesn't care he wants someone who take care of him, and she is going to do that, he doesn't see his sister's ghost when it’s with her.

 The thing is that Violet it's a manipulator she wants something she got it, nothing can stop her, and she wants Charlie. She controls everything in his life, his job, where he lives, where he is, everything. But she take care of him, she is in love with him, in this crazy way, that you know it became an obsession. She is desperate to get Charlie's approval, to get his love, but that's something he can't give it to her.

“But even now, Violet wasn’t happy. Not having a companion who loved her chipped away at her confidence. The most unattractive element in a human being is desperation, and Violet wore desperation like a mink coat in the middle of a New Orleans summer. It was obvious to anyone of either sex that the aim of all her hard work was to attract a man who would love her.”
He meets Jennifer in a bar when he is with Violet, and he fall for her right away, it was love at first sight, their soul mates and they both know it, but it wasn't the right time. He likes the frame of innocent that it's around her, he doesn’t even know her name but he knows she is the girl for him. When Charlie realize that he is wasting he's time with Violet he leave her, she isn't find about this she things it's a phase, that he just want to fool around with Jennifer, that he is in love with her. But he wants to find Jennifer, but there are things in his life that aren't good. He isn't planning to find her but when he does it's not in the way he had in mind. Their re-connect and they thing that everything in their life are falling the way they shut be. But something happen, and they are falling apart again, but this time it's forever, they only were together for a couple of days, and people who you might thing that has nothing to do with, were involve.

The thing is, this character were really hard to understand, Charlie is so vulnerable, for me he can't be in a relationship in this moment, because, he isn't taking care of himself, and he is depending of everyone, including Violet, who is confusing, love with gratefulness, Charlie never loved her but in her mind he is and that made her do things that weren't pretty. It was really frustrating, and Jennifer well, SHE IS CRAZY, she's too weak for the word of Violet and she paid the consequences. All these

character were insane.

Pain make people act with no logic, no mercy, and this story is proving of that.

“You have to burn a forest down if you want it to grow back again.”

 The character are well made, but there were a lot of things that Michael Dennis, didn't say, like what happen to Violet after she find out what happen to Charlie. And time, it was confusing; in a moment we were with Jennifer in the present, and the next page we were with Charlie years ago.

 This is a story full with drama, with surprises, it's written beautifully, in a poetic way, but it's heavy, it's not for a trip or waits in an airport. I have to said, it was good, but it's not a must read, if I have to ranking it, I would give it 2.7 of 5.

 What can I say I'm a fan of good ending, even if are nice or bad, but this was an awful ending.

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Review of The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abé

Synopsis:
“With every fiber of my being, I yearned to be normal. To glide through my days at Iverson without incident. But I’d have to face the fact that my life was about to unfold in a very, very different way than I’d ever envisioned. Normal would become forever out of reach.” 
 
Lora Jones has always known that she’s different. On the outside, she appears to be an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl. Yet Lora’s been keeping a heartful of secrets: She hears songs that no one else can hear, dreams vividly of smoke and flight, and lives with a mysterious voice inside her that insists she’s far more than what she seems.
 
England, 1915. Raised in an orphanage in a rough corner of London, Lora quickly learns to hide her unique abilities and avoid attention. Then, much to her surprise, she is selected as the new charity student at Iverson, an elite boarding school on England’s southern coast. Iverson’s eerie, gothic castle is like nothing Lora has ever seen. And the two boys she meets there will open her eyes and forever change her destiny.
 
Jesse is the school’s groundskeeper—a beautiful boy who recognizes Lora for who and what she truly is. Armand is a darkly handsome and arrogant aristocrat who harbors a few closely guarded secrets of his own. Both hold the answers to her past. One is the key to her future. And both will aim to win her heart. As danger descends upon Iverson, Lora must harness the powers she’s only just begun to understand, or else lose everything she dearly loves.
 Filled with lush atmosphere, thrilling romance, and ancient magic, The Sweetest Dark brilliantly captures a rich historical era while unfolding an enchanting love story that defies time. (Taken from Goodreads)

Stars Given: ★★★☆☆

Overall View:
The story was confusing but it placed a sense of calm in me... I have no idea why.  The story was beautifully written however, I had a hard time trying to establish what was happening half of the time.  I think the story lacked adventure.  There were times when I felt like the story should have less of the drama in the school and a little more explanation to how the main character accepted the fact that she was a DRAGON! Its not an everyday thing where people go around and seeing other dragons.  I would have freaked out but the main character was quite calm after she heard that fact.  The story lacked something I couldn't put my hand on.  The cover was enchanting and the way the words were weaved into the story made it even more enchanting but for me, this book was missing an important element.  The author didn't place enough writing into certain sad and tragic parts.  I felt that some of the areas were missing a huge chunk.  Therefore I give this book three stars out of five.

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Review of Defiance by C.J. Redwine

Synopsis:
Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city's brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father's apprentice, Logan--the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same one who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but a fierce belief in her father's survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city's top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor's impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can't be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making. (Taken from Goodreads)

Stars Given: ★★★☆☆

Overall View:
To be honest (yes, the best and most original way to start a review), I only picked up this book because of the cover, which is a stupid reason.  When I began reading this book, it was actually not as bad as most of the reviews say.  I believed that this book was not really that bad, and if I had a choice of rereading it, I might, if I had nothing else to read.  The characters were developed and showed change throughout the story.  They did not stay as the same pure, kind-hearted people as the story came to an end.  It took me 2 days to read it, which means that it was really good, considering the amount of time I got to read during those 2 days.  The plot was original, with the Cursed One, but the only thing that seemed to make me want to just throw it into the pile of I'm-so-tired-of'-reading-the-same-books-with-different-character-names was that the main character's reactions were predictable.  It just made me want to scream out: "NO!  DON'T DO IT!  YOU KNOW IT'S WRONG AND YOU'RE GUNNA REGRET IT!!!" kinda thing (mostly during English class too).  So overall, the plot was pretty good, and the only thing that kept me from upgrading it into a 4 star-ed book is the main character, Rachel.  I wouldn't buy it if it was not on sale.  If I ever want to reread it (low chance), then I would rather pick it up from my school library rather than really buying the book to keep.

Characters:
Rachel - 
Description of Character: Rachel isn't like all the other girls in Baalboden.  She is fierce and knows much more than anybody would expect her to.  She knows how to wield a weapon, defend herself, and most importantly, survive in the wilderness.  Her father, Jared, has been MIA and so the Commander claims him dead.  Rachel believes that she is able to find her father, with the help of Logan, the boy she fell in love with two years ago. She travels into the Wasteland, with her new protector by her side, to find her father. 

Review of Character: I felt that Rachel was the only problem in the book.  Okay, maybe one of the problems, but she was I guess the major problem.  Everyone expects a strong female lead and I did not see that in Rachel.  At all.  Sure, she's meant to be strong and would rebound any attack that comes at her, but her personality and thoughts just made her weak.  Yes, with capitol W-E-A-K.  I couldn't take the fact that she was so reckless, causing the plans that Logan revised to fall apart.  I just wanted to slap her and tell her that Logan needs her to be calm and civilized and she is NOT  helping at all.  When I was reading from her POV, I found it boring, speed reading through parts that I found that didn't need to really be in the book.  Her character at the beginning was okay, as I found her strong, but when she witnesses Oliver's death then Jared's, she really became even more reckless, which made me HATE her.  Because of her character, it brought 1 whole star down.  It may seem unfair, but once you read it, you would want to slap her, trust me.

Logan -
Description of Character: Logan has lost his mother, when he was young, to the Commander.  He can't bear to lose anyone else he loves.  To Logan, Rachel used to be just his mentor's daughter, but when  his mentor, Jared, becomes missing, he realizes his responsibilities when he is assigned Rachel's protector.  As he and Rachel is released into the Wasteland, by the Commander, their journey takes many twists and turns, making it hard to trust anyone.

Review of Character: Logan was the only one actually keeping Rachel sane throughout the whole story.  If he was not one of the characters narrating the book, then I don't know.  I think the book would just crash and burn, literally.  Logan was probably my favourite character.  Not only did he have logic (something I look for in many main characters), not once has he thought of reckless things like Rachel did.  Throughout the story, Rachel kept repeating the word 'revenge' and Logan has not said much about it.  He is smart and can use what he has to survive.  He was the strongest, most developed character in the story, keeping his emotions and thoughts in line.  If it weren't for Logan, my school library would not get this book back.  They would, but it would be in a pile of ash.

*Supporting characters not listed

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