Never Eighteen- Megan Bostic

Pages: 204

Published: January 17th 2012 by HMH Children's Books

Genre: Contemporary/ Y.A

Format: Paperback

Date Finished: 15^th February 2012

Synopsis:

I had the dream again. The one where I’m running. I don’t know what from or where to, but I’m scared, terrified really.

Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. But in the short time he has left there’s one thing he can do: He can try to help the people he loves live—even though he never will.

It’s probably hopeless.

But he has to try.

Review/ Thoughts:

I was so excited to get this book in the mail. It is a small one, but I just loved the premise and I knew I would get around to reading it soon despite my overwhelming pile of books. After hearing about the Road Trio week hosted over at Reading Wishes that runs from 13^th-17^th of February it was all the nudge I needed to put everything aside and dig into Never Eighteen.

To be honest I didn’t really like Austin very much in the beginning, especially when he was going around and seeing all the people that he wanted to make amends with. The way he treated Kaylee in my eyes was just not on and while I understood he needed privacy to me it felt like he was using her. I don’t think it was intentional but it was something that bugged me and had me rolling my eyes. Sadly despite my hopes his personality didn’t change very much at all. I found him to just be a bully and insensitive and don’t get me wrong he had his redeeming moments and I don’t want to hate on a kid with Cancer but really- erk I wanted to punch him.

The minor characters in this book, and there were many had some interesting flaws, but for the most part were undeveloped and flat. I honestly did not care for any of them and it saddened me, the time to get to know them in any capacity was cut short my Austin’s journey and I didn’t really get the chance to see a balance.

The premise is what kept me reading, that and the hope that Austin might show some redeeming qualities. This book was nothing like I anticipated and was more of a weekend friend troll than a road trip.

There were parts of this journey that I did enjoy and for the most part I was able to laugh and was grateful for the small fortune of humor. I also liked Kaylee as a character, and her friendship and interaction with Austin was a major part of me continuing with the story. I also loved the names that she gave to her sexy mustang and the way that music was a big part in the story it gave some meaning to the characters and Austin’s past as well as his present and the impact it is causing for all those around him.

Megan Bostic’s writing style is simplistic & kudos for her Debut novel. I think for a first novel it was okay. I would like to read more of her work in the coming years as I think she has a lot of potential. I think my main concern was that it took too long to really begin and I think it began with his approaching death in the final chapters. [which is no spoiler] Despite myself I was tearing up and I really did feel for Austin, it didn’t change the way I thought of him, but it did make me compassionate and see all the good he was trying to achieve.

I would recommend this book to those who are looking for a more emotional read. Was it inspirational? No, I didn’t find it inspirational at all. I could commend Austin on his aim to help the people he cared about appreciate their own lives, but for me inspirational is something a little different to the way this book was portrayed. Still it was a really great.

★★★

The Last Awakening- Rachel Firasek

Published: December 6th 2011 by Entangled Publishing

Genre: Romance/Adult/ Urban Fantasy

Format: Ebook

Date Finished: 12th February 2012

Synopsis:

For three hundred years, Arabella’s life has been one meaningless death after another. In a cruel twist of fate, Osiris–god of the Underworld–gifts the phoenix her mortality and returns her voodoo magic. If she fails to harness her wayward magic and save a man worthy of a second chance, she’ll forfeit her power and her soul–forever.

Ex-soldier Greyson Meadows desperately wants to be freed from the nightmares and guilt that haunt him after the tragedy that brought him and Ari together. Confronted by the waif of a woman who forces him to face his worst fears, he resists, fighting the need to keep his personal demons hidden instead of setting them free.

When Ari becomes the target of her own magical blunder, it’s not just her life in danger, but now the one of the man she loves.

Review:

Is it possible to love the beginning more than the first book? Rachel has done it again with hooking me from the get go with this amazing second novella in the Curse Phoenix series. This time we meet Grayson an ex- Soldier who despite the horror living inside his head is a wonderful, compassionate person. For readers of The Last Rising you will know Grayson from Ice and Turners story as you will Arabella. This aspect alone kept me up early into the morning wanting to know their story.

I will admit that I would have liked to see more time pass and tension build before Ari and Grayson are rekindled in her new transformation, but to be honest it didn’t detract too much from the story. Grayson’s history along with Ari’s past blended together well, as both were seeking redemption and trying to overcome their haunting pasts. It is one of the many traits I have already grown to love about Rachel’s writing and I am a firm believer in strong story telling.

There seemed to be a lot going on in this story and while I did enjoy each aspect at times I felt it to be a little jumpy and too fast. There were some passages that I believe could have had more detail, especially when it came to Ari seeking help, while others confused me. I lost track of the story a little bit through the middle, but it quickly picked up.

I was excited to read about her powers as I haven’t read too many stories with voodoo magic, so it was interesting to discover what her powers are capable of and from experience with spirits I know the overwhelming and haunting sensations and consequences of dealing with them while living in the modern world.

The Last Awakening was a bittersweet novella that tugged on my heartstrings and also brought back a lot of memories with my own spiritual experiences. Again I loved the aspects of Egyptian mythology this time seeing Ari as the daughter of Anubis . I really appreciate that Rachel brings something fresh to each installment of this series as it makes it a joy to read.

★★★.5

Please if you have not heard me gush about it enough seek out the first book in the series. The Last Rising

You can find Rachel here : http://www.rachelfirasek.com/

Normal Gets You Nowhere - Kelly Cutrone

Pages: 180

Published: April 26th 2011 by HarperCollins Publishers

Genre: Non/Fiction/ Memoir, Autobiography

Format: Hardback

Date Finished: 9^th February 2012

Synopsis:

An invitation to rethink who you are, what you value, and what you want from life, Normal Gets You Nowhere goes beyond how to reinvent yourself and create your own brand, and investigates what it means to live in this world as a tuned-in, caring individual with a passion for making a difference. There’s already an army of super talented uberfreaks changing the world–isn’t it time you joined it time you joined them.

Review:

My only knowledge of Kelly Cutrone was from watching her on numerous episodes of Dr.Phil over the past few years. My overall thoughts about her was that she was a no shit kinda lady who told it like it is, but at the same time to me seemed to take it a little bit too far. But when I read about her book If You Have to Cry Go Outside I became intrigued to learn more about the way she perceived the world and her business. I am yet to read that book, but when I was working at my local library I came across Normal Gets You No Where I decided to give it a try.

For the most part this book was inspirational. I took the parts that were relevant to me through reading the entire book and appreciated her honest opinions on subjects like consumerism, sex, spirituality and finding our true essence. A few years ago I would have been the type of woman to live with the ideal that a man would take care of my needs and be the breadwinner, but over the past two years I have changed and grown and I loved to read about women who have made a career and a life for themselves through hard work and without a man. These parts were empowering in many ways.

However the book did go on tangents, and while I am one to enjoy such tangents it became a little confusing in places and when it came to rights it did make me ask a lot of questions. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, of course because like all self help books and memoirs you do want to take something and learn but I lost track between the message of not being normal and the times when what Kelly was saying was more like a contradiction.

Her main message is to think for yourself, and from what I have seen and read she is clear about who she is and what she wants to experience. And while I am one who is adamant about being myself, isn’t it a bit hard to take in the whole thinking for yourself process when she makes choices driven by her professional life at the end of the day? We are all consumerist in one way or another and impressions are hard to deal with. While reading this book I aimed to be clear minded and yet a lot of the messages Kelly was trying to convey came across to me as different ways of thinking and being and in some ways conforming.

What I did take from this book was that message that you need to live the life that you want it to be and not to conform to what everyone else’s ideal is for you and your future. That we need to find the things that make us freaks, creative and wonderful and use them to live a healthy and productive life. Also to remember and be grateful for the fresh air and the fact that we have this experience called life, because amidst the need to be someone that everyone will love, we also forget that we are sacred and unique and deserve to be our true self.

For the most part I did take a lot from Kelly, and part of me wishes that there were more women out there fighting for the truth and making it known that there are ways in which we can help the world, and it can be as simple as offering someone a hug. I think it is important to give back the community and to start thinking about what relationships do mean to us besides meeting up for coffee once a month or getting lost in the technology that the world has provided for us.

Controversial, raw and full of honesty I do think if you aren’t one to be too easy offended then pick this book up for sure. I would love to hear any feedback from those who have read this book or Kelly’s other book and if you know of Kelly what are your thoughts?

★★★

Short Story Monday's - Feb 6th

Short Story Monday is a weekly meme where I review a short story I have read during the week. This week I read Masked By Richard Denney

Pages: 17

Published: January 28th 2012 by RPD

Format: Ebook

Genre: Young Adult

Date Finished: 5^th February 2012

Review/ Thoughts:

This is my first story written by one of my favorite Youtuber’s Richard Denney, although I do own all of his released works I still haven’t got around to reading them and damn I want to smack myself. If you are new to Richards work I think that short stories are the perfect way to test the flavor of an author and Richard does not disappoint. He has hit all of my tastes with a tale of mystery, Masquerade and debauchery that spoke to my love for the paranormal and scenes that open in clubs.

It definitely kept me longing for more of Alex Dash and I will be one of those many readers that will certainly be picking this up if it turns into something longer. So check it out, it is free to download and is a wonderful taste of Richards writing.

You can Find Richard Denney on Good Reads Here: Richard Denney

You can Find Richard’s Channel Here: http://www.youtube.com/user/MrRichardDenney

★★★★