Review: The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone

The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone by Adele Griffin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Addison Stone was a young artist that had many fans. Not only was she brilliant, she pushed her art to the impossible and created works that were beyond words. After her tragic death on July 28th, her fans and others in the art world wanted to know more. The story is unraveled for the reader through a series of interviews, diary entries, emails and other communications.

The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone is a novel that the reader will wish was about a real person. The issues this eccentric artist was working through are similar to what many of us experience at some point in our life. Griffin shaped a story out of so many different types of medium, yet the reader is not distracted by the ever changing format. A great standalone novel for those who want a break from all the varied genres and just want a book about a person that really could be true.




View all my reviews

Review: One Kick

One Kick by Chelsea Cain

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Kathleen Lannigan was abducted at the age of six while looking for her dog. During an FBI pornography bust, she is rescued and returned to her family. After her name being changed every six months, she decides she wants to be called Kick. That name becomes prophetic when she learns to defend herself with weapons and just her body. The concentration to train with these skills helps her cope with her PTSD. It has been nearly ten years and she is still obsessed with child abductions. When two children go missing in the same month, she wonders if they are related. Then a man named Bishop shows up at her place and wants Kick’s help to rescue these children. He feels her experience as a victim will give her greater insight into what is going on. What Kick doesn’t know is that this case is closer to her own than she could possibly imagine.

One Kick is the first book a new series that will appeal to readers of thrillers. Kick is a strong female protagonist that will not let her previous victimization pull her down. Cain has created a back story that will pull the heartstrings of any reader and builds a foundation for future books that will bring readers back for more. Although very few of us will ever experience what Kick has gone through, we are able to understand the trauma and become more involved with the story. Readers of Cain’s Gretchen Lowell series will not be disappointed with this new series.




View all my reviews

Review: Wordless

Wordless by AdriAnne Strickland

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Tavin Barnes is an illiterate wordless trash collector and he knows that will never change. He was found abandoned as a baby and raised in his wordless world. After being assigned to Eden City to collect trash, Khaya, the Word of Life, stages an escape and Tavin is quickly pulled into the world of the Words and the political intrigue he knew nothing about. The city’s elite will do anything to get Khaya back, but won’t admit to the public that she is missing. Do these teens have what it takes to outsmart their devious elders? Who can they trust and what will they sacrifice?

Wordless is the first book in the new Words Made Flesh series. Although there is world building and character development for a rather large group of characters, Strickland is able to weave these details into the story without it feeling like a lecture. The action is quick and ever changing with a few twists at the end to make this a satisfying read. Readers who enjoyed The Hunger Games, The Testing and The Maze Runner will want to try their eyes out on this book.




View all my reviews

Review: Bewitched in Oz

Bewitched in Oz by Laura J. Burns

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Zerie has been told to hide her magic. It is against the law for any of the common people to practice magic. If they are caught, the magic is taken from them and in the process some of their memories disappear also. Zerie and her two closest friends all have magic and are secretly practicing with each other. When a flying monkey takes away one of the girls, Zerie and two companions set out to find Glinda the Good. They have been told that she is the only one who can help them against the Princess Ozma.

Bewitched in Oz is the first book in what is clearly a new series. Some of the world will be familiar with readers of the original Oz series, yet the events in this book takes place many years after Dorothy’s adventures. The overall story is shallow, yet the twist at the end was unexpected and causes me to consider looking for the next book in the series. Bums does not create too many characters and the few main characters learn truths about themselves and those around them in a predictable sequence. This is being promoted as a children’s book and will probably be too simple for teens to get into. Middle school students looking for an escape read will find this a possibility.




View all my reviews

Review: Some Boys

Some Boys by Patty Blount

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The only reason Grace went to the party that night was in the hopes of seeing Ian, but when too much drinking leads to her being raped by the school’s golden boy, she is called a liar and a slut. No one believes her, including her family. Through a series of unrelated events, Grace and Ian are given the punishment of cleaning the student lockers. Not only is Grace required to work side by side with her crush, Ian is also the best friend of the boy who raped her. Will Grace find friendship and healing?

Some Boys is told in alternating chapters between Grace and Ian. One of the interesting aspects of this book is when they both tell about events they both were present for. The reader discovers what happened to the first character and then when the next chapter is started, the reader has to back up in time to see it from a different point of view. I liked that we were able to know what each of these teens were thinking and feeling during these events. Blount’s writing style is easy to read and will be quickly devoured by teens and adults alike. Many deep and troubling truths are presented in this romance novel.




View all my reviews

Review: The Bridge from Me to You

The Bridge from Me to You by Lisa Schroeder

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Colby’s father wants him to have his best football season so that he can get a scholarship for college. Colby has no problem going to college, but doesn’t want to play football. He wants to study how to design bridges. Lauren has a secret. She has left her family and is now living with her aunt and uncle in this small town. When Colby and Lauren meet, there is an instant spark. They want to trust each other, yet they have a pull toward their own priorities.

The Bridge from Me to You is a romance novel with something for male and female readers. The story is told in alternating chapters between Colby and Lauren. Colby’s football practices and college sport issues are enough to make the story complete, but not so much that this would be considered a sports book. The small town atmosphere with a priority on high school football is something that many teens and adults will have never experienced, yet the reader will enjoy the tale and yearn for Lauren and Colby to find a path to their dreams. I recommend this quick read to anyone who enjoys a realistic fiction escape.




View all my reviews

Review: The Young World

The Young World by Chris Weitz

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



The youth in Washington Square are survivors. A mysterious illness has killed the very young and the adults and only those in the middle age group are alive. They have pulled their resources and expertise to adapt to a world without modern amenities, yet they hope for a cure before they also bite the dust. When one of their group believes he has discovered a clue to the Sickness, they head outside of their secure home and begin an adventure that they hope will save mankind. Unfortunately, not all survivors are friendly and they must cross other people’s territory in order to arrive at their destination.

The Young World is a post-apocalyptic adventure in a time that seems to be bubbling with post-apocalyptic YA stories. Even though this type of story is a current trend, Weitz is able to create a believable world with realistic characters. There was no point in my reading that I felt like saying, “Yeah, right!” What the boys and girls went through would be a possibility in a world gone wild and their responses are completely understandable. This is the first book in a trilogy, yet the main component of the story is wrapped up before the end with a new twist woven in to leave a cliff hanger for the reader. It is not a throw the book across the room cliffhanger, but it is enough of a tease to leave the reader with anticipation.




View all my reviews