Review & Blog Tour!! Elementris (The Vangeretta Curse #1) by Christina Mobley

Read in: March, 2013

Format: eBook

Source: Author

Star Rating: ★★★★

Synopsis: (From Goodreads.com) 

There are people born in this world with a powerful connection to the earth itself...

They have an unbreakable and extraordinary bond. Every seven years, five people are born on the same day, at the exact same time. The elements bind them; earth, fire, wind, water, and spirit. They call them, Elementris.
Ava Vangeretta is seventeen years old and different. Unlike most born of the element, she was born alone. She has the power of all five elements. Ava is the first True Elementris to be born in many years. As her eighteenth birthday approaches she is faced with a choice. Give up this rare gift and live the normal life she has always craved or accept it and challenge the current True Elementris in a battle to the death! 
Ava's past haunts her as she struggles to decide. In her present, the seasons are colliding together, storms are destroying lives, and love is a dangerous curse. The current True Elementris is behind it all and she will do whatever necessary to keep Ava from making it to her eighteenth birthday. Ava's decision threatens the lives of the two people she cares about most. Can you choose between love and friendship?
Get ready for the storm...

Prosecution: 

Honestly, I didn't know what to think. Some areas were a little dry and the beginning was hard to get into. I don't handle a lot of information well, especially with Ava being so wishy-washy (though it was obvious what she would choose).

Defense: 

But ohhh lawdyy, that twist! I for one, didn't see that one coming!! Usually, I pick out the twist pretty well. But Mrs. Mobley certainly crafter a great one! I loved the sucker punch that it was. The book itself was a quick read, especially for someone like myself who doesn't pick up fantasy or paranormal as a first choice. But that cover grabbed my attention, and I sure am glad she offered up this little bit of wonder! The twists and turns, the scenery, and descriptions were definitely something. Alec and Ava had chemistry, while the elements gave it a little bit of The Last Airbender vibe. 

Verdict: 

Overall, a solid four stars and worth the price. I enjoyed Ava's twists and turns through this new world while there wasn't an overabundance of out there fantasy. The author kept everything as real as it was magical while giving the novel a twist that is to die for. 

Excerpt from Book 2,Exposure: 

Ava glanced at the world map on her wall; the one matching the giant one in her office. There was work to be done. She felt the power of the elements begin to surge through her as she looked at the maps. There had been an awful drought in Georgia for weeks now and it looked as if her help was needed. She closed her eyes and instantly her throat went dry and she felt the heat rising from the parched earth. With her eyes still closed she could see the blinding sun and cloudless sky. She let the magic of the element work its way through her body as she thought of rain. She smiled as the blue sky darkened and she sent a rumble of thunder as a warning to those who might not be paying attention. She could feel the relief of the earth as it began to absorb the soothing rain. She was careful to make sure the rain would provide a slow soaking—the earth was so dry that anything heavier would cause flooding. She opened her eyes, feeling a little dizzy as her energy level returned to normal, and sighed. If only she could really be there. Element Island was amazing, but she longed to be able to visit all the places her mind took her.

Riverboat Landing: A History of the Ocklawaha River Steamboats by Michael C. Mason & Edward A. Mueller

Read in: March, 2013

Format: Paperback

Source: Provided by Author

Star Rating: ★★★★★

The Author provided me a copy of this novel. This has in no way altered or changed my opinion of the book. 

Synopsis: 

The only history of the Ocklawaha River Steamboats in color, this mastery of the history of the Ocklawaha and the Steamboats that made it famous are in vivid display along with photographs, diagrams, interesting side notes and of course, passages on the history of the owners and operators of the most famous Central Florida steamers.

Prosecution: 

During the reading, I found that when reading, the boat titles were capitalized instead of italicized. It was a little distracting. 

Defense:

This book took fifteen years to create. Do you realize that many of my readers weren't even alive 15 years ago? This piece of work is packed with information on the barges, their captains, and of course, the river that carried them. Diagrams and photos of the boats and river are in vivid color and put onto display for everyone, young and old. This is the complete history of all boats that ran the Ocklawaha and Silver Springs River. As a native Floridian, I saw the beauty in the land that I've grown up on. A native Floridian would understand the annoyance of ducking under tree limbs while on a boat ride and the Spanish moss floating on the river. I've heard stories of alligator "hunting" while on the boat rides, which was how many men made their living. The steamboats carried supplies, people, goods, and produce (not to mention mail!) up and down the Ocklawaha. These boats are truly a HUGE part of Central Floridian history. Without them, what would have happened to Marion County? 

Verdict: 

Five Stars! This book has so much history packed into 204 pages. You'll follow the river from its early boating days until even the popularity of the Silver Springs Attractions (which is still in operation today!). This book is truly a masterpiece and well worth all of those years. 

About the Author:

Michael C. Mason is a dedicated Lions member with a passion for the Ocklawaha and the riverboats that traveled it. He developed a mobile display unit on the boat and traveled throughout Central Florida displaying the unit while telling stories and showing images & memorobilia with his father. He currently resides in Central Florida. This is his first book. 

The Big Bang by Linda Joffe Hull

Read in: Not finished.

Format: eBook

Source: Netgalley.com 

Star Rating 0

I was unable to finish this novel.

Prosecution:
Slow, boring, dreary.. I'm sorry, I was just so uninterested in the entire novel. I was bored out of my mind.

Defense:
I found nothing redeeming of this novel. Maybe, I'll pick this up another day, but I doubt it.

Verdict:
I can't really give this a star rating. I didn't finish it, the novel and I just didn't click. I had a ton of high hopes for this book, I thought I was getting into this Desperate Housewives experience, but nope, fell just way too flat.

Rewrite Redemption by JH Walker

Read in: February, 2013

Format: eBook

Source: Author

Star Rating: ★★★

The Author provided me a copy of this novel. This has in no way altered or changed my opinion of the book. 

Synopsis: (from Goodreads.com)

She’s sixteen. He’s seventeen. They don’t know each other…at least not yet.

She has a secret and her whole life revolves around keeping it. Every few months and with little warning, she simply disappears, pulled into the past for hours or even days. She’s terrified it will happen in front of someone, changing her life forever. So far, the only witnesses have been her parents, and that didn’t end well. She has no control over it and no idea why it happens to her. 

She wants answers.

He has answers—at least he understands what’s going on. He has a secret, too. He’s part of an organization that goes back in time to rewrite reality. But he also has a problem. He broke the organization’s number-one rule by altering his own timeline. As punishment, he’s been blocked from time travel, which is most unfortunate. Because the changes he made to his timeline, accidentally resulted in disaster for his family. A disaster he’s now prevented from repairing. No one can travel beneath the organization’s radar except a Shadow. But they’re rare, so rare he’s never even met one.

Then he moves to her town.

Prosecution: 

Honestly, I couldn't wrap my mind around the ending, but I got the gist of it. She also got Constantine♥! But I didn't find the story to really pick up until the other end. I felt a lull for the first 50% but I continued reading, since, let's face it, I NEEDED TO KNOW! 

Defense:

Mind=Blown. That is basically what I was thinking throughout the ENTIRE book. Now, you all know I don't read that much science fiction or paranormal novels. I'm more of a non-fiction and contemporary romance kind of girl. But I really enjoyed this book! AJ's attitude was so laid back and the entire book did progress with this attitude. Lex is bomb, and seemed to be a pretty awesome friend. 

Verdict:

A solid three stars. I felt pretty confused about the story as a whole. Will I reread it? Sure, but it's not one of my favorites, as much as I wanted it to be. But that cover sure nuff is gorgeous c;!

Never Too Far (Too Far #2) by Abbi Glines

Read in: February, 2013

Format: eBook

Source: Bought From Amazon

Stars: ★★★★

Synopsis: (from Goodreads.com)

He had held a secret that destroyed her world. 

Everything she had known was no longer true. 

Blaire couldn’t stop loving him but she knew she could never forgive him.
Now, she was back home and learning to live again. Moving on with life… until something happened to send her world spinning once again. 
What do you do when the one person you can never trust again is the one that you need to trust so desperately? 

You lie, hide, avoid, and pray that your sins never find you out.

Prosecution: 

As much I love Abbi's penchant for drama in all of her novels, I was really getting tired of it in this one! I wanted to get to the part where Blaire abandons those trust issues and trusts Rush. Cane's stupidity, (I mean, c'mon! Who goes to confront the guy who has stolen his ex girlfriends heart?) Blaire's wishy washy tendencies, and Rush's constant screw ups were grating on my nerves while I waited for them both to grow up. 

Defense:

I had a serious love/hate relationship with this one. I read the book within about three hours. Did I say read? I mean devoured. Bethy is absolutely adorable and I love love love her! I would love to have a book of all her & her relationship, because honestly, that was a little cliffhanger at the end with Rush talking about how her boyfriend was getting antsy to leave. 

Now, back to Blaire and Rush's relationship. Volatile doesn't even begin to describe this. Rush, while he does truly care, needs to put Blaire first, no matter what. Considering that, ahem, bun the oven. But he does end up being alright later on. The ending was a definite happily ever after, and that was a point in my book. I'd have loved to have an epilogue, but, I digress.  

Verdict: 

A solid 4 stars. This wasn't as wow, ajhdkfjhglfg;;;; as the first book, but I for sure was not disappointed but this was an okay ending to the Blaire and Rush story.