Between The Lines by Jodi Picoult

Have you wondered what happens when you close a book?

Can life get any worse? Delilah’s father is gone, she hates school (to top it off has only one best friend), and has an obsession to a fairy tale book.  Ok so it probably not normal to be admiring a character in a book that happen to be a cute, no wait scratch that, a super hot prince. But he is the only person who she can relate too.

Life can’t get any worse than this. Oliver is stuck in a book, hates his fake life of acting, and is in love with this girl with the most amazing; wait no, the most mesmerizing eyes. But what good would that do when apparently he is “fake” and unreal. The saying “Everyone deserves a happy ending” well, right now Oliver ending sucks.

Ok this book was totally different from the other books Jodi Picoult writes. Usually her books are super sad, but touching at the same time. But this book is like a happy fairy tale story. And I loved it. I actually did wonder what would happen when I closed the book, to which Jodi answered perfectly. I was super surprised when I found out that her daughter helped her with this book. Then again, Jodi Picoult writing skills had to pass down to one of her children. One thing that I loved about this book is that they are pictures that show what the characters are doing and they helped me better understand. Also how she writes her stories from the character point of view is another reason why I love all her books.  I would rate this book 5/5!

                                                     -Yoshi Luver

The Girl In The Steel Corset by Kady Cross

A girl knocking out a full grown man seems impossible, but Finely has the capability of sending a person flying with just one punch. Which can be useful when trying to attack someone but then you would have to make sure that you don't get caught. Luckily for Finely she runs into, like literally, Griffin King who sees the magic inside her and takes her in. And believe it or not, is able to control Finely vicious side and calm her down. Finely finely (ha ha <--- Finely, finely get it, ok yeah back to my point) feels that she actually belongs somewhere and is able to help. Especially in this new investigation going on where "The Machinist" keep stealing the most random stuff. But at least for Finely, she trusted. Or at least she hopes so?

This book was like whoa! I wish I had an evil side of me that would be able to hit harder than a man. “There’s a darkness within me, sometimes I can’t always control.”  See right there explains everything. That would have been awesome. So now you can stand up to yourself next time some thief or stranger attacks you. You like actions you should definitely read this book. Rate it 5/5.

                                                                           -Yoshi Luver

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

Skye 17^th birthday has arrived. Another day comes and then goes. But this time something weird occurs. Two strangers arrive and for some reason Skye gets déjà vu. Not like she has ever met them before, or has she? Soon she finds out that these strangers are definitely not human and they are giving her the hebejebes. While one seems shy and kind, the other looks dark and mysterious. And for some reason she can’t stop thinking about them both. Skye soon finds herself surrounded with secrets. Her normal life is now gone and is replaced with questions about her past. The truth which causes Skye to find herself pondering about the future. What is the right path to choose, as she soon finds herself in between what might be good and what might be evil?

OMG!!!!!!

It is all I can say. I can’t stop thinking about his book at all. This book is like having the feeling of a girl in a candy store. Do you know that feeling? I sure hope so! I just loved, loved, loved it. It will make you believe one person is good and then all of a sudden it switches around and whoa la, soon that person is bad. I am just speechless. I just don’t know what to say, but that this is my favorite book Of All Time. I can’t wait till I get a hold of the second book A Fractured Light. Thank god Jocelyn Davies wrote this book. You should definitely read this book for sure, 100%. Rate this book 6/5.

Author Interview With Belle Whittington

Belle resides somewhere north of Houston, Texas in a small inconsequential town with the smallest most inconsequential name. There in the shady reaches of the pines, elms, and oaks, she daydreams of adventures and secrets that she weaves throughout her stories.  She studied literature at University of Houston and has been known to consider the idea of becoming a professor of English someday.

I finished Cicada and fell in love with the book. I just can’t stop thinking about it and can’t wait for the 2^nd book, Firefly, to come out. So I am so happy and honored to have Belle Whittington on I Rawr Books. It is also my first too. :)

Yoshi Luver: OMG! I just loved your cover! Who designed it? And was it as you imagined?

Belle Whittington: Thank you!  I love it, too!  My daughter designed the cover using licensed stock art, and I think it is so very magical.  Actually, I didn’t know how I wanted the cover of Cicada to look.  But once I saw her creation, I knew it was perfect.  The girl on the cover is being lifted into the air and transformed, just like the main character Blair Reynolds.

Yoshi Luver: Cicada is your first book, what decided that you will stick to Sci-Fi, instead of romance, horror……and so on?

Belle Whittington: Most of my early writings were stories with a twist of science fiction…even my earliest poems.  I remember sitting on the dam of a neighbor’s pond around the time I was eleven, writing a story about space travel.  In fact, I still have that little handwritten story.  It’s still bound in the same yellow notebook that I put it in way back in the sixth grade!

And when the basic story introduced itself to me, it only seemed natural that it was a science fiction tale.  I suppose sci-fi is my favorite genre to write.  There’s a dash of romance and horror mixed into the trilogy, though.  And I think readers will enjoy those little sparks of flavor in the recipe!

Yoshi Luver: Mostly everyone would ask what inspired you to write this book….and so, what did inspire you?

Belle Whittington: There’s not any one thing that inspired me to write Cicada. I find inspiration in everything around me, and there are a lot of cumulative memories of inspiration from over the years that all culminated in this YA Paranormal Sci-Fi trilogy.

Growing up in Nacogdoches, the oldest town in Texas, afforded me summers full of adventure with my friends.  I call on those adventures and memories a great deal for my YA stories.  Cicada has a lot of the energy of those childhood adventures spun throughout.  One of them is something that actually happened to me when I was thirteen years old.  I was on one of my adventures in the woods with my dog, Dusty.  We made our way through the woods to a neighboring pasture and crawled through the barbed wire fence.  When we got to the top of one of the rolling hills in the grassy field, I realized I was standing in the middle of a giant circle imprinted in the pasture grass.  No one had ever told me about crop circles at that time in my life, so I just thought it was an odd occurrence that there was a strange circle in the tall grass.   Now that circle is forever memorialized in a YA novel, Cicada!

Yoshi Luver: Was the location in the book related to any specific place that you visited or lived at?

Belle Whittington: Cicada is actually set in the town in which I live: Willis, Texas!  As you can see from the book, Willis is a very mysterious town with giant secrets.  I did include a lot of actual places from the town in which Cicada is set.

For instance, I pass a ranch on my way home every day (and sometimes night!), and out in the middle of one of the grassy fields is a small forest of trees with a dense wall of tightly grown underbrush. For years, I’ve imagined that something very mysterious was going on inside that forest, and sometimes at night I’d get creeped out while driving by it! Now readers can get a feel for that forest by reading about the “haunted forest” in Cicada!

Yoshi Luver: Did you find yourself stuck while writing this book? If so what part?

Belle Whittington: I didn’t really have any problems while writing Cicada.  The story just sort of flowed out of my fingertips and onto the page. My characters lead the story, so I’m merely the recorder.

The most difficult part to write was the ending.  I cried so hard when I wrote the last sentence that I had to take a long drive to calm myself down.

Yoshi Luver: I know that authors come to love their character, but who is your truly favorite character?

Belle Whittington: This is actually a really good question to which I have an odd answer.  I related to all of my characters equally, actually.  I feel that each one of them has a small part of me in them, and I have a connection with each one of them.  For instance, when they hurt, I draw upon some memory of a time when I was under emotional stress or heartbroken.  When they are in love, I remember a time when I was thoroughly smitten with someone.  So, I’m sorry I cannot be more specific with my answer.

Yoshi Luver: I know I am dying to know, and I bet a bunch of other readers are too, about your second book in the Cicada Trilogy! Can you give us a little pre-view as to what firefly is all about?

Belle Whittington: Without giving away any spoilers, I will say that the trilogy really heats up in Firefly.  And there will be a very hot new character named Ash who readers will love to hate to love!  Everything changes in Blair’s life, even her little town.  Will it be for the bad or for the good?  Readers will have to be the judge of that.  Firefly is due to release this fall.  But I’ve included a sneak peak at the end of Cicada just to tide you over!

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The cover for Firefly is going to be gorgeous!  I think readers will be very pleased.

Belle Whittington: Thank you so much for having me over to your adorable blog for a glass of ice tea and a chat!  I’m so happy to have the opportunity to get to know you and your readers!  I hope everyone will stop by any or all of my social networking sites to say “hi”.  I love comments from my readers, and I always respond.  Happy reading!

For additional information, and where to find and contact Belle click this link below
Belle Whittington Links

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A Million Suns by Beth Revis

LIES LEAD TO CHAOS. CHAOS LEADS TO DISATER.

AMY HAS BEEN LIVING HER LIFE ON GODSPEED FOR THE PAST 3 MONTHS SINCE SHE BEEN UNPLUGGED. AND NOTHING HAS BEEN GOING WELL AT ALL. EVERYONE BLAMES HER WHEN STUFF GOES WRONG AND CALLS HER A FREAK. BUT ATLEAST ELDER IS THE LEADER. HE FINALLY AGREED TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING RUNS SMOOTHLY AND NO MORE PHYDUS. BUT SOON SECRETS EMERGE THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING. A LIE THAT WILL SOON CHANGE THE PEOPLE. A TRUTH STILL TO BE DISCOVERED. AND THE FACT THAT WORRIES EVERYBODY: THEY HAVE TO GET OFF THE SHIP. 

OK THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING A LOT LATELY. BUT THIS IS THE SECOND BOOK OF THE SERIES. EVERYTIME I GO GET A BOOK THE WORDS THAT SAY “BOOK TWO….” JUST TEND TO DISSAPPEAR. I GOT TO BE MORE AWARE. BUT AS THE OTHER BOOKS TOO, THIS BOOK WAS STILL VERY UNDERSTANDABLE. I WAS ABLE TO GRASP THE BOOK. AND I LOVED IT. IT WAS AMAZING. IT ACTUALLY REMINDS ME OF GLOW, BUT GLOW IS MORE ROMANTIC AND A MILLION SUNS IS MORE ADVENTURES. BUT THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING. NOW I CAN’T WAIT TO GO READ THE FIRST BOOK.  RATE THIS BOOK 5/5

                               -YOSHI LUVER

Black Heart by Holly Black

Whose is good and who’s bad?

Cassel has a power that has caused him to get into a lot of trouble. Nothing is ever right. Nothing probably ever will, but soon Feds decide to give him a second chance. To leave his con life behind and change his direction in the way of life. But why does it feel so wrong to do something good. One reason is that he got to leave the girl he loved like since, forever. Then he also is still caught up in fixing his mom mistakes. But what is the right thing to do and what’s wrong. And who knows, Feds are always sneaky, always.

 

This book was like whoa!  I love the talk about Feds and con. It just fascinate me. Makes you on the lookout that any one working for the Feds in undercover can end being your best friend. Not to freak anyone out though. I just tend to have passion for stuff like robbery and murders. But this book is just about con so don’t get scared. I would rate this book 5/5.

                          -Yoshi Luver  

Diabolical by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Could a Demon/Angel be closer then you think?

“When "slipped" angel Zachary and his werewolf pal,Kieren, arrive under suspicious circumstances to a mysterious New Englandboarding school, they quickly find themselves in a hellish lockdown with an intriguing assortment of secretive, hand-picked students. Plagued by demondogs, hallucinatory wall décor, a sadistic instructor, and a legendaryfire-breathing monster, will they somehow manage to escape? Or will the devilhave his due?”

I enjoyed this book a lot. But the thing is that I couldn’t find any words to describe this book. Maybe it just that the heat is getting to me or that my allergies are getting worse this summer. But this book has vampire, wolves, angels, What More Do You Want? It was a new twist every time I turned the page. Maybe I get back to the review later. But for now I am LAZY XD. Rate this book 4/5.
                            -Yoshi Luver

The Calling by Kelly Armstrong

Had to flee. Helicopter crashed. Stranded on islands.

This is pretty much what’s been going on in Maya life. There has been nothing but danger in each and every path they take. All because of what she has become a skin-walker. Both she and her friends abilities have attracted attention from unwanted guest. Who have decided that they will stop till nothing until they have captured all the kids. New secrets emerge and trust becomes a source to stay alive. They will have to soon find a way out or else.

This book was like

.

It was such a supernatural thrill. I wish stuff in books were actually true. That would have been amazing. Maybe I might wish that if I come upon a genie! This book was the 2^nd book, but I was still able to understand the whole story. The ending of the story was like, “whoa did that really just happen”. Oh and cats apparently ALWAYS land on their feet. That’s something new to discover. I would rate this book 5/5.

-Yoshi Luver

Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

“Is true love worth the ultimate sacrifice?”

War is everything to Calla. It what her life is meant to be. But this time it’s different. This time war is losing everything that Calla loved. This time it’s her turn to fight for what she wants. This time it’s her turn to choose.

This book was amazing. I loved it even though I didn’t read the first and the second book. The love is a bit intense, but that’s life I suppose. I am definitely team Shay. I don’t think that Ren is good fit for Calla. But that’s probably because I didn’t read the first and second book. But for now I am definitely team Shay. The action was totally like wow. I wish I was able to turn into a wolf. And also I was still able to grasp the whole book it made sense to me even if I didn't read the other two. Rate 4/5.
                                          -Yoshi Luver

Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

If everything was taken from you what would you do?

Aria has nowhere to go. She’s been kicked out of her house. Stranded in “The Death Shop”, she knows her survival chances are slim. She just luckily seemed to meet a savage who happens to take her along with him. Even though he is rude and obnoxiousness she has nothing else to do but follow, or she will eventually die. 
Perry wants revenge. Nothing else but to get his family back together again. But has no clue where to start. But lucky for him, he bumps into a dweller and knows shes the key to helping getting them back. He will do anything until he finds them.  

This was such a breathtaking book! I loved it. It amazing how the tech. these authors create will want to make you live it yourself. I loved the powers that Perry possesses. It is a different power then telepathy. Instead of reading people mind he is able to scent their emotions. I find that phenomenally interesting. And Aria has a custom D.N.A that made her have a beautiful singing voice. Imagine if you were able to change your D.N.A. Then you would be able to pick what type of color hair, eyes, and all sorts of stuff. I would rate it 5/5. 

                                                 -Yoshi Luver 

The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges

What would happen if you had the power to raise the dead?

Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, has to hide her secret. Her dirty secret of raising the dead. No one knows about her curse. No one. She doesn’t even want to try to use her skills at all. But in order to save a member in her family she had to. Now she has attracted attention from evil presence and they will do anything to have her power for their own. New threats have arrived in Russia. Monsters and so called beasts are now lurking the woods and forest. Katerina loved ones are in danger. And many people have been dying. Who will Katerina trust? Who will turn out to be Evil? 

This book kicked ass. One second you would believe that you should trust one person. Then all of a sudden they change to become something horrifying. You don’t know who is good or bad at all. It also funny how royal people faint and over react to the tiniest things. The book also mentioned about VAMPIRES. Yeah!!! But they were evil. Technically when are they not? This book is amazing and would rate 5/5.
                                                 -Yoshi Luver

The List by Siobhan Vivian

There are gossip girl, wannabes, punk, mean, and Queen Bee all living the drama life of high school.

The list has been a ritual since like forever. Each grade two girls are picked for being the prettiest and the ugliest girls and are listed on the paper. It all over the school printed everywhere. If lucky, the prettiest will tend to find themselves in a very happy path. But if not lucky, you just have to put on your game face and deal what seems like a hell of torture. Once you’re on the list everything about your life will be transformed.

This book is a definitely must read if you are going to be going to high school this year. There are a lot of gossips that going to go around and it isn’t going to be pretty. This book was amazing until the very last page. It could have ended better. The ending was sorta boring but still just amazing. I couldn’t stop reading the book. I think I get interested in gossip and how the situation ends. Are you a Drama Llama? Rate this book 4/5.
                                         -Yoshi Luver