Review: Sink or Swim by Jamie Canosa

Title: Sink or Swim
Author: Jamie Canosa
Publisher: Kindle edition
Publish Date: July 21, 2013
209 pages

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Life has been a bit crazy lately and knowing I had to read this book and offer up a review has been weighing heavily on me. I wasn't looking forward to having "to do" anything extra. But finally I gave in. I do like to complete my agreements with people.

From the moment I picked up this book, I was hooked. Jamie Canosa literally had me from page 1. Which is simply amazing. I didn't want to go to work. I didn't want to sleep. I wanted to read this book from cover to cover without stopping. It was such an amazing book.

It was the perfect escape from reality when I needed it the most.

Allie has so much horrible stuff going on in her life. Her father is a raging alcoholic and completely abusive monster, her mother is not there for her after having the life beat out of her and she cannot tell anyone. Not even the man who has been there for her her entire life, Dean because he has so many other things to take care of in life. After a tumultuous evening, she gives in and leaves. Just packs a bag and gets on a bus. Sadly six months later, she is pulled back into the chaos because her mother is sick and she just cannot forget about her. And Dean, refuses to forget about her. He is an instant stresser because she loves him deeply, but cannot let him in to her secret world.

I cannot say enough about how well Jamie Canosa wrote this book. I am envious of her magical, yet simple wording that makes me never want to put this book down.

Check out my previous review of Jamie's other book, Fight or Flight.

Summary -
There are some things you just can't walk away from.

When sleeping in vacant warehouses and dark alleys becomes preferable to living at home, something is seriously wrong. But when word reaches Allie that her mother is facing a life threatening illness, she has no choice but to return to the place of nightmares. Leaving wasn't a choice, it was a necessity, and if returning hadn't been equally necessary, Allie never would have set foot back inside that hell-hole.

Dean is no stranger to hardship, but the day Allie walked out of his life, taking his heart right along with her, was hands-down the most frustrating. Six months later, she's back and Dean refuses to rest until he figures out exactly what the hell happened.

Now, Allie's drowning. Drowning in lies. Drowning in the truth. Drowning in pain, and anger, and fear. But there comes a time when every drowning person must decide whether they will . . . Sink or Swim?

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Review: Grounded by GP Ching

Title: Grounded
Author: GP Ching
Publisher: Carpe Luna Publishing
Publish Date: Nov 15, 2012
306 pages

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From the first paragraph, I was sucked into this book and didn't put it down til the very last page! SO GOOD! I absolutely loved it.

Lydia is this a wonderfully developed character. I liked her more every page. She was brought up in an Amish community learning to love the smaller, quaint life. She has everything she wants right at home. A community, a loving father, a home, a farm that needs her and a boy who will court her someday. Yet, when worlds collide she is pulled into the Englisher world and out come her true nature - a girl with powers to control electricity. With it come the danger as well. She meets another boy just like her and she is attracted to him in ways she never felt before. With her family, her way of life and herself in danger, she has to decide if she is able to handle who she really is.

I really hope there is another follow up book to this. Can't wait to see what happens with Lydia!!

Summary -
In the year 2050, a secret government study nicknamed Operation Source Code injects eight volunteers with a retrovirus. The goal? To abate the energy crisis by reprogramming human DNA to power personal electronic devices. The experiment works but with disastrous consequences.

Seventeen years later, Lydia Troyer is far from concerned with the energy crisis. Growing up in the isolated community of Hemlock Hollow, life hasn't changed much since 1698 when her Amish ancestors came to America. She milks her cow by hand, bakes fresh bread every morning, and hopes to be courted by Jeremiah, the boy who's been her best friend since she could walk.

But when Lydia's father has a stroke and is taken to the outside world for medical treatment, Lydia and Jeremiah leave home to visit him. An ordinary light switch thrusts Lydia into a new world where energy is a coveted commodity and her own personal history makes her the most sought-after weapon on the planet.

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Review: The Truth about Letting Go by Leigh Talbert Moore

Title: The Truth about Letting Go
The Truth #2
Author: Leigh T Moore
Publisher:
Publish Date: Feb 21, 2013
276 pages

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Bit amused that as I was writing this review, I realized this is actually Book 2 in the series. Hello?! This is great though because that means the books are written well enough not to give away all the good stuff from previous books.

I really didn't want to like this book because of the main premise (which is my own fault, as I never re-read the summary after deciding I want to read the book) as it tells very clearly that Ashley, the main character is going to have problems with liking a good for her boy and a not good for her boy. I hate that! Because mean spirited boys always leave you feeling worse than the problems you fled to them with. But Ashley continually stole my heart and I read this book with a voraciousness that made me love the ending even more.

Ashley is struggling through a very bad time in her life after he father passed away. She feels the void inside her wanting to be filled, but she doesn't know how. Her mother is non-existent and her friends don't seem to care enough. She goes out of her way to fill this void. She meets new friends, falls for a good boy she truly cares about, but can't seem to pull herself away from the badness spreading inside of her that pushes her back into the arms of the really bad boy.

Very well written.

Summary -
SEMIFINALIST, 2013 "Best Indie Book" awards, The Kindle Book Review

Ashley Lockett has always followed the rules. She's always done the right thing and played it safe until her ideal life is shattered when her dad dies suddenly.

Fueled by anger and grief, she vows to do everything opposite of how she lived before. Then she meets Jordan. He has big dreams, he's had a crush on Ashley for years, and he's a great kisser. But he's also safe.

Enter Colt. He is not safe, and he's more than willing to help Ashley fulfill her vow.

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Review: Untraceable by SR Johannes

Title: Untraceable
The Nature of Grace #1
Author: SR Johannes
Publisher:
Publish Date:
315 pages

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Can I just start out this review with simply saying, "LOVED IT!" in that annoying sing-songy voice that people use when they just don't know what else to say.

In real life, Grace and I would be friends. She is curious and smart and a fighter. She is sweet and vulnerable, but doesn't want to show it. She wants to connect with people, but is good by herself. She has the need to get out and be in nature. She loves animals and even has had a pet bear as a child. And because of all of this, she also attracts danger.

Then she meets a stranger in her woods who is attractive and mysterious and she hates to admit, she takes a liking to him. The more she hangs out with him, the more she likes him too. Darn, as she has learned to like her solitary life. Mostly she is alone because she refuses to believe her dad is dead and died in a accident. She feels he is still out there somewhere and will do anything to find out the truth. But the truth can hurt, deeply.

I got this book from Netgalley and am excited to realize Book 2, Uncontrollable, is already out ready to be read!!

Summary -
Book 2 Uncontrollable is also now available!
Book 3 is scheduled for Summer 2013.

16-year-old Grace has lived in the Smokies all her life, patrolling with her forest ranger father who taught her about wildlife, tracking, and wilderness survival.

When her dad goes missing on a routine patrol, Grace refuses to believe he’s dead and fights the town authorities, tribal officials, and nature to find him.

One day, while out tracking clues, Grace is rescued from danger by Mo, a hot guy with an intoxicating accent and a secret. As her feelings between him and her ex-boyfriend get muddled, Grace travels deep into the wilderness to escape and find her father.

Along the way, Grace learns terrible secrets that sever relationships and lives. Soon she’s enmeshed in a web of conspiracy, deception, and murder. And it’s going to take a lot more than a compass and a motorcycle (named Lucifer) for this kick-butting heroine to save everything she loves.

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