Blog Tour: Careful by Isobella Jade

Careful (The Careful, Quiet, Invisible Series #1)
By Isobella Jade
Published: Gamine Press / July 26, 2012
Paperback/e-book
Rating : 3.5 out of 5
Check this out at Amazon
Book trailer Podcast

Careful is the story of Estella, a young girl who loses her life by a car accident just when she is beginning to experience it.   She dies suddenly leaving many unsaid words and leaving many possibilities behind.   She was a smart athlete, full of promise and looking towards a brilliant future.

When she dies she never says goodbye and she (as a spirit) keeps experiencing everyday with the people she loves.   This reading show us how she tries to deal with it all and how her loved ones try to come to terms with her death.

About the book:
The story is unexpected.  It is youthful and sad at the same time.  This is a book full of emotions.  Estella displays her feelings of love and also, her friends and family express how they miss her.  I kept waiting for the character to blossom in some kind of way.  She was getting stronger and was gaining purpose but sometimes  I couldn't understand her actions or lack of thereof.  There was an specific moment in the story where I hoped for her to help her friends, but sadly it never came.

This is a book that can be strong by itself but also, I can see this as a series.  From the supporting characters, I think Jett is the one who could bring a solid story.  Eva is an interesting character too.  I would have preferred for her to be less of a stereotype.

The Cover:
The book cover is nice.  It has an "e" charm on a road.  It clearly depicts what the story is about.  Also, this item is relevant in the story so it was smartly used in this book cover.

E-copy provided by publisher via YA Bound Blog Tour for review purposes.  This book was reviewed according to its merits.

Perception Cover visiting Jessy's Bookends

Today a new dystopian novel hits the stores.  We have today the cover for Perception by author Lee Strauss (Elle Strauss). 
Here is the blurb:
Seventeen year old Zoe Vanderveen is a GAP—a genetically altered person. She lives in the security of a walled city on prime water-front property along side other equally beautiful people with extended life spans.
Her brother Liam is missing.
Noah Brody is a natural who lives on the outside. He leads protests against the GAPs and detests the widening chasm they’ve created between those who have and those who don’t. He doesn’t like girls like Zoe and he has good reason not to like her specifically.
Zoe’s carefree life takes a traumatic turn. She’s in trouble and it turns out that Noah, the last guy on earth she should trust, is the only one who can help her.
PERCEPTION is a ( SF/mystery/romance) Young Adult novel that takes place in the not too distant future in a world changed by climate extremes, natural disasters and impending wars, and where scientific breakthroughs cause class divisions—both financially and philosophically. It explores the clash between faith and science and how differences can separate us as enemies or ally us together. And in some cases, even in the midst of betrayal and personal crisis, there’s room to fall in love.
This is the first book in a planned three book series.
About author :
   Lee Strauss writes historical and science fiction/romance for mature YA and adult readers. She also writes light and fun stuff under the name Elle Strauss. To find out more about Lee and her books check out her facebook page. To find out about new releases sign up for her newsletter at www.ellestraussbooks.com
Find Perception at Amazon

Blog Tour : Reflection by Jessica Roberts

Author: Jessica Roberts
Published: 02/17/12
Rating: 5 out of 5

Have to say I am really surprise by Jessica Roberts.  I didn't expect to be absorbed by her storyteller skills and know I simply can't wait for her next book.
 
A little about the book:
Heather is a small town girl thirsty for life.  She wants to begin a new life at college and forget about her past.  Her best friend Creed is not that happy to be left behind, but she is decided to create a new life for herself.
Next thing we know is her awakening from a coma.  The doctor attending her guides her through her memories.  She begins to narrate her memories to this doctor.  In her memories appears a guy called Nick.  He becomes a clearly important to Heather. Heather has been hurt in the past, which explains why she keeps repressing her past.  Every episode she tells to the doctor is more engaging than the previous, and every memory will keep you guessing.  What does Heather hides?  What happened to her?

This was my reading experience...
I kept reading for long hours because simply the story is that fascinating.  Heather is a character you immediately empathized with. Roberts made a great work keeping a suspense climate around Heather.  Definitely will keep writing about this book in this blog.

I received this book from publisher via YABound for review purposes.  This book was reviewed according to its merits.
Look for this one at Amazon

Dark Knight Trilogy: Screenplays & Storyboards

The Dark Knight Trilogy : The complete screenplays with selected storyboards
Author : Christopher Nolan
Published: Opus Books/ Hal Leonard, August 2012
Look for this: Amazon / BN / Goodreads

This begins with a conversation between C. Nolan, J. Nolan and D. Goyer. What grabbed my attention of this interaction was how easily is their exchange of ideas. Clearly we can see how dear this movies are to them. An interesting detail we get from their conversation is how they approached each movie as an individual project.

After their brainstorming of ideas we can begin reading the screenplays. I have to admit I was kind of disappointed this book doesn't promote active interaction from the reader.  I expected to see pictures and even storyboards integrated onto the screenplays. That way,readers could understand their experiences and train of thought. This book should bring insight of their creative process but it didn't do enough for that purpose.  We do found storyboards after the screenplay section but sadly more as an appendix. To me could've been a highlight the integration between storyboard with its screenplay scene, so we could enjoy the creative process in action.

The cover for this edition looks like someone is looking at the sky in hopes to see the Dark Knight. The image is amazing because to others it could look like someone is vigilant of the city.
This is for hardcore fans of Batman and admirers of Nolan's work.  If you have interest in studying the screenplays and enjoy some great storyboard work, this is for you.

Thanks to Opus Books for providing me this ebook copy via Netgalley. I review this book according to its merits.

Blog Tour: Shift by Raine Thomas

Author : Raine Thomas
Published: Iambe Books, August 2012
Find it! Amazon / BN / Goodreads
About Raine: Site / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Goodreads

Blurb :
As a shapeshifter, Sophia is familiar with change, but even she feels the friction building in her homeland. With the births of the newest Estilorians looming, a Mercesti and kragen now in their midst, another Mercesti hunting for the Elder Scroll, and a traumatized female too afraid to use her abilities to stop him, tensions run high.
Topping off Sophia’s stress is Quincy, the male she’s convinced can’t stand the sight of her. She rues the loss of their past friendship, but can’t figure out how to move past it. She’ll soon learn, however, that mending that rift could bear more significance than she ever imagined.
The hunt for the Elder Scroll takes on unexpected urgency, and Sophia finds herself in a race across the mainland. To try and stop Eirik and his followers, she and her family and friends must get past their differences and unite against him. If they don’t, Eirik will not only acquire immense power, he’ll kill two of the beings Sophia loves most.

This chapter of the Firstborn Trilogy is driven by Sophia.  She is different from the rest of her family.  She has the capability of shape-shifting, which she does not know how to deal with.  While she learns how to accept herself as a special being, she has to deal with her feelings towards Quincy.  From Defy, we know there is tension between them and possibly emotional attachment.  Now we  see how they have fallen in love but are clearly in denial.  Sophia flourishes in this second book.  As the story progresses she becomes the heroine of the story.

Tate appears too, but now accompanied by Zachariah. Tate needs to be rescued again.  The first book left the scrolls quest open and now Tate has been taken for her ability to see the truth and being of high importance to find them.  Something that took me for a surprise was that I thought Tate would be more relevant in this book.  She interacts with Sophia regularly but, Sophia is the MC and is who promotes the action.

I expect to see more of Sophia as the main in a next book.  She is the kind of character from which a new independent story line can be created.  She began with a world of uncertainties but ends this chapter showing her assertiveness and her willingness to love and be loved in return.

The Book:
The first thing I want to emphasizes about Shift is its cover.  It  is a simple yet beautiful image.  The contrast between blue and black works really well.  The second is the level of creativity this author shows.  The story is innovative, the characters are multidimensional and this world provides an infinite set of possibilities for this author to create from.

Rating:
4 of 5

Book trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6u2vwxPf5s&feature=youtu.be

Thanks to YABound for providing me this copy for review purposes on this blog tour.  This book was reviewed according to its merits.