Archive for the ‘series’ Category

Fractured Soul by Rachel McClellan
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Welcome to my first book tour of 2013! Just over a year ago I had the pleasure of participating in the book tour for YA author Rachel McClellan’s debut novel, Fractured Light (you can read my review HERE). So when I received an invitation to join the tour for its sequel, I quickly and excitedly responded that I was in fact very interested!

Fractured Soul centers around Llona (pronounced Ee-ona) and begins not long after where Fractured Light left off. Like in the first book, the main plot is the ongoing fight between good (Auras) and evil (Vykens). Yet lines between good and evil have become even more blurred as things are almost never as clear as black and white, but more like various shades of gray. Llona and close friend May are the newest students at Lucent academy which is the school Llona’s Aunt Sophie runs. But once again trouble seems to follow Llona no matter where she goes including the one place in North America that is supposed to be safe for Auras!

Llona, like her mother, is an Aura and as such is told she is only a being of ‘light’ and as such is not supposed to want to be able to fight and defend herself. But Llona is ANYTHING, BUT typical or ordinary. In this next part of the story, Llona learns quite a bit more about how and why she has very different capabilities compared to the other Auras studying at Lucent Academy.

One of the main reasons that I gave Fractured Soul 4.5 stars (and not 5) is because there was a HUGE cliffhanger at the end of the novel. I was very annoyed that soooo very much was left unresolved. And of course the third novel more than likely will be unavailable for at least a year!

I very much look forward to the next book in this series as I’ve really enjoyed Rachel McClellan’s Fractured series.
~Jaclyn~

*Disclaimer::I received an e-copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are purely my own. Please see my media kit for more information.

Author Elle Strauss has been generous enough to sponsor this giveaway which means one lucky fan will win ALL three books in the Clockwise series! I’ve been fortunate enough to have been able to read and review all three of these books. If you are interested in reading my reviews you can find by clicking HERE for my review on Clockwise, HERE for my review on ClockwiseR, and HERE for my review on Like Clockwork. All you have to do is fill out the easy to use Rafflecopter entry form below. And don’t forget to visit the over 100 other blogs participating in this event co-hosted by I’m a Reader, Not a Writer and Books: A True Story.

~Jaclyn~

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of each of these books from the author or book tour company for the purpose of writing an honest reviewing. Please see my disclaimer policy for more information.

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Review: Like Clockwork by Elle Strauss
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

I was first introduced to this amazing series back in May when I participated in a book tour for the first book, Clockwise. So when I received an email from the author, I immediately jumped at the chance to read the second book Clockwiser. After loving the first two books I very much wanted to read the third book, Like Clockwork.

What I didn’t realize was that unlike the first two books, this third one wasn’t about Casey Donovan. I couldn’t help but be a little bit disappointed, because I really wanted to know what Casey adventures Casey was up to now. However, once I got a couple chapters in, I found myself just as enthralled in the life and adventures of Adeline Savoy as i was with Casey Donovan. Adeline like Casey is a time traveler, but unlike Casey who travels back to the 1860′s, Adeline travels back to the 1950′s.

Adeline and her father recently moved from Cambridge, Mass. to Hollywood, Ca. Adeline is not only getting used to new surroundings and a new school, but now when she travels back in time, she travels to old Hollywood. And that means coming up with a new plan for survival for when she does travel. For Adeline that means trying to always dress in clothes that are as appropriate for the 1950′s as possible since she doesn’t get any advance notice for when she travels. I did find several similarities in personality between protagonists Adeline and Casey. For one both end up taking someone unintended back to the past and/or to their present.

I gave Like Clockwork a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars because I felt that the story had become a bit predictable. One of the things that I loved about the first two books were the twists each had. But felt that after reading and very much loving the first two that it was fairly easy to figure out what would happen. And I thought that Casey was a bit easier to relate to than Adeline. I also would have loved for there to have been more of connection between Adeline and Casey.

That said, I still very much enjoyed reading Like Clockwork and can hardly wait until the next in the series is available. Of all the books I have read in the past year as a direct or indirect part of my blog, I’d have to say that the Clockwise series by Elle Strauss are my most favorite! I would love for the next book in the Clockwise series to be either about Casey Donovan or somehow about both Adeline and Casey.

~Jaclyn~

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author for the purpose of writing an honest reviewing. Please see my disclaimer policy for more information.

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Review: Clockwiser by Elle Strauss
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A couple months ago I was lucky enough to be able to read Clockwise by Elle Strauss as part of a virtual book tour. Not long after Elle Strauss emailed me to see if I’d also like to read and review the sequel. I immediately responded YES and so was able to also read Clockwiser. With everything going on it has taken me a bit longer to write this review.

Clockwiser continues the story of Casey Donovan and her friends and family around her. Casey is different that other girls her age because she time travels. I’ve read other books on time travel and I just love how elegant time travel in her books are. In other books it can be confusing and mind boggling to keep straight when the main character time travels. But in Elle Strauss’s series it is always obvious and easy to follow.

Casey hasn’t “tripped” (her word for time travel) since the last book left off which is the longest she has gone without tripping. But then when she is having a disagreement with her younger brother TIm, she touches him and suddenly travels back in time with Tim. When Casey trips, if she is touching sometime skin to skin (ie holding hands) she brings them back with her!. Casey only travels back to the same time and so as she has gotten older so have the people she has befriended in the past.

Tim has no idea that Casey has this amazing ‘talent’. At least he doesn’t until he ends up tripping back in time with Casey. A huge problem this time is that it is now 1862 in the past and the Civil Was is quickly approaching. While Casey is safe from being drafted because she is a girl, Tim (while a little under the age requirement) isn’t necessarily exempt.

Since Casey must have skin to skin contact when she trips back to the present she tries to make sure Tim is near her at all times. But when she returns to the present without Tim panic sets in. Now Casey and boyfriend Nate (who went back with her in the first book) keep trying to return to the past to get Tim back, but Tim being impatient and rebellious decides to join up with the Union army.

I really LOVED every page of Clockwiser. I read through it in one sitting! This is by far one of the best novels I’ve read since I started blogging a year ago! I had so much fun reading both of the books in this series and cannot wait to read the third Like Clockwork. I love the way Elle Strauss is able weave together the past and present in such an easy to follow and beautiful way. I really don’t have anything negative to add except that I wanted both books to be longer.

I think that the premise for how Casey time travels is just fascinating as it can happen at any time day or night. No matter how much time Casey spends in the past she always returns to exactly where she left off. If you like YA books on time traveling then you really should pick up a copy of Clockwise and Clockwiser.

~Jaclyn~

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author for the purpose of writing an honest reviewing. Please see my disclaimer policy for more information.

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Review: Beckoning Light by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Beckoning Light is the first in a series of YA novels by Alyssa Rose Ivy. Charlotte and her older brother Kevin are moving back to Charleston, South Carolina and the house they grew up in, after spending 3 years in Fairbanks, Alaska. And to make things just a bit more awkward, school has already started and the uncle they’re staying with happens to be the basketball coach and music teacher.

When the book starts, Kevin is concerned about his younger sister’s ability to ‘fit’ in, make friends, and have a ‘social’ life. And is pleasantly surprised to find that Charlotte is doing just fine on her own. But it is the things that Kevin doesn’t notice about Charlotte that could cause them to potentially never see one another again.

As it turns out the garden gate does have another side IF you have the right key that is. But what Charlotte has never been told about could truly come back to haunt her. As soon as I read about the mysterious garden gate, I immediately remembered reading another book about a curious garden gate as a young child. Francis Hodgson Burnett wrote (among other things) The Secret Garden

I read The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett as a young child and as soon as I read about the garden gate it made me think of that other garden and how it was secluded away behind doors. Doors, that determined young women were able to get into. That is about as far as the similarities go. That and wondering if the area inside the garden is different as one imagines.

I gave Beckoning Light a 5 out of 5 stars as I really enjoyed reading the book and the story line within. Certain aspects were more or less predictable than others, but was a great read. I very much look forward to reading the second book Perilous Light in the next few weeks.

Now you have a chance to win your own copy of Beckoning Light by Alyssa Rose Ivy! The giveaway is open now, Wednesday, May 16th through Friday, May 25th at midnight EST! The winner will get their choice of e-book format! To enter all you have to do is leave a comment with your email and which e-book format you’d like! it is that simple! Following is appreciated, but not required for this particular giveaway.

~Jaclyn~

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author and A Tale of Many Reviews Book Tours as part of their book tour. Please see my disclaimer policy for more information.

Special Feature – Character Interview with Charlotte

Q: How did you feel about moving back to Charleston?
A: I had mixed feelings. I missed South Carolina but I was really nervous about starting over at a
new school and about facing Liam after our kiss.

Q: Why were you so intrigued by the old gate in your yard?
A: We were never allowed to go through it, and I didn’t understand why. It was always locked and I
wanted to know what if anything was beyond it.

Q: What is your relationship like with your brother Kevin?
A: It’s a love-hate relationship, probably like most people have with their siblings. He can be so
infuriating but I know that he cares about me and would do anything to protect me.

Q: How would you describe your taste in music?
A: My music taste is really eclectic. I’m always looking for new bands. Lately I’ve been really
getting into the indie scene.

Q: What was the first thing you noticed about Calvin?
A: His eyes… they are such a gorgeous shade of green.

Q: What’s your favorite part about Energo?
A: There is this incredible feeling of belonging I get and the colors are amazing. I can’t imagine a
more beautiful place.

Q: Any advice to someone entering a hidden world?
A: Pack a toothbrush and hope for modern plumbing.