Book Review: Pandora Jones: Reckoning (Pandora Jones #3) by Barry Jonsberg

Goodreads Description: 

Pan blinked. Something strange was happening to her mind and body. She felt relaxed, but at the same time, acutely aware of everything. She remembered the Professor's words: she was the cause of the destruction of humanity. And she felt the truth of those words.

Pandora Jones's problems appear insurmountable. She must convince her team that nothing is as it seems and that they must escape and expose The School to save the world from the plague she unwittingly inflicted on it. The only thing Pan has on her side is her gift of intuition, and her belief in the people she cares about.

But with the clock ticking, can she find a way to stop the plague, and should she do it at any cost?

Pan and her friends face off against the might of The School as the final pieces fall into place in the hugely compelling Pandora Jones series.

Title: Pandora Jones: Rekoning
Author: Barry Jonsberg
Genre: Sci-Fi, survival, paranormal, apocalyptic, YA, 
Format: Paperback
Pages:312 pages
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Source: ARC was received in exchanged for an honest review from the publisher

Warning: This review might spoil evens from Book 1: Admission (Review Here) and Book 2: Deception (Review Here).

This is one of my most anticipated books of the year and like every last book in a series I'm excited yet scared on how its gonna end and thank goodness Reckoning did everything right on ending a series!

The third and final book of the Pandora Jones series picks up immediately where we left off in Deception. In this book the truth behind the school, Pandora and her friends reason for being there and most importantly where did Pandora's powers come from is revealed.

I savored the story not wanting it to end yet wanting answers for all the cliff hanging questions in the previous book and this book delivered, tying in all the loose end in ways i didn't expected with a nice little bow. While I still was not a fan of Pan's inner captain obvious thoughts, I'm now at a point to where I'm used to it so it didn't bother me as much as it did in the previous books. The pacing in this book was slightly slower pace but I preferred that as it gives me a breather to process what's going on. Also like the previous books the action and suspense were nothing but nerve wrecking and epic to the point I'm on the edge of my seat hoping they'll be okay (spoilers... not really).

The scientific element is wicked and easy to follow and I also like how they talk about the ethics and morals of science and health. Lastly the way the book concluded was fitting and perfectly done! Prior to the released of the book my over thinking theory brain could not think of a 'happy' and satisfying way for this series to conclude but gosh did the author did a great job of summing up the series!

The character and relationship building in this book was probably the best in the series where we not only explore more of Pan and Jen's friendship that was established in the previous book but we also get to know more of the other characters aka their group mates like Wei Lin, Sanjit, Sam and Karl where in the short time we manage to get more of their backstory and their strengths, weaknesses and secrets which will all be important for the later part of the book. Mostly I enjoy how this diverse cast of characters interact with each other as they work together to try and crack down the secret behind the school.

Pan's relationship with Nate was surprisingly bittersweet and though Nate was such a hit/miss character for me through the series, his fate was the saddest part of this book. I seriously was rooting for Pan and Nate to be together especially with how he redeems himself ( comparing him to Theresa in Maze Runner AT LEASE HE TRIES TO REDEEM HIMSELF which got me to emphasis for his character) and the surprise of his relationship with a certain school faculty member.

Lastly the truth behind Pan's powers was kinda confusing but surprising. I had to re read that whole scene a couple of times but I like what they did with her finding out the truth and also answers some questions I had of another character in the previous book. Also from what I gather, Pan 'unlocks' a new level or ability with her power in each book which is really cool as we get to see her developed and adapt to her 'gift'.

Overall the Pandora Jones series is seriously one of the best and unique apocalypse/sci-fi theme YA I've came across as well as one of the more underrated Aussie YA out there. I highly recommend this series for its diverse cast of characters, epic and fast pace action and plot twisting story line.

Book Review: Kissing in America by Margo Rabb

Goodreads Description: 

In the two years since her father died, sixteen-year-old Eva has found comfort in reading romance novels—118 of them, to be exact—to dull the pain of her loss that’s still so present. Her romantic fantasies become a reality when she meets Will, who seems to truly understand Eva’s grief. Unfortunately, after Eva falls head-over-heels for him, he picks up and moves to California without any warning. Not wanting to lose the only person who has been able to pull her out of sadness—and, perhaps, her shot at real love—Eva and her best friend, Annie, concoct a plan to travel to the west coast to see Will again. As they road trip across America, Eva and Annie confront the complex truth about love.

In this honest and emotional journey that National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr calls “gorgeous, funny, and joyous,” readers will experience the highs of infatuation and the lows of heartache as Eva contends with love in all of its forms.

Title: Kissing in America
Author: Margo Rabb
Genre: Contemporary, YA, Coming of age
Format: e-book, ARC

Pages: 400 pages
Publisher: Harper Collins
Source: ARC was received in exchanged for an honest review from NetGalley

I'll admit from the start that this was a cover pick cause COME ON when a big billboard with the word 'KISSING' is on the cover it screams romance and I'm in!

HOWEVER this book was not really a romance book but a coming of age story about love (and not just romantic love).

Eva's dad died in a plane crash two years prior to the book and since then she has finds comfort in reading romance novels which also means rebelling on her feminist mother. Eva then falls for a boy she tutors in school name Will who understands what she's trough so when Will unexpectedly moves across the country to California, Eva convince best friend Annie auditions for a quiz show called 'Smartest girl in America' which gives her the chance to see will again. Because Eva's scared of flying (due to obvious reasons), they decided to take a road trip where they encounter Eva's crazy Aunt Janet, Annie's cousin Grace, some actual swoon worthy cowboys and Eva's mum's best friend Lulu. There are a couple of side stories like Eva and her mum's relationship and Eva and her love for writing which she has abandon ever since her dad passes away as it was a connection she had with her dad.

I like Eva's narration but was not that a fan of her as a character. While I enjoy her inner monologues and funny remarks, I got annoyed with her character, one stupid decision after another. While I did empathise with her on some level like her mum being OVERLY over protective, was not a fan of her going across the country just to see the guy she likes. Even so those decisions, she does learn from her mistakes and this a great example that a main character does not have to be likable to be enjoyable.

One thing that stood out for me was the amazing and diverse cast of side characters. While I did like Annie and Aunt Janet, Lulu was my favorite of the bunch. Each character has a great sidestory and of them all I find Lulu's the more intriguing and meaningful.

While I did like the story I found the pacing slow and it took a while for me to click with the story. I also wish we got to see more of Eva and her mum's relationship as I feel like something is missing. Even so I really like the writing especially near the end where I went highlighting happy in my Kindle as there were a lot of really beautiful and meaningful. I also love the road trip element as THIS is how a road trip should be written, full of spontaneous moments.

Now the 'hint' of romance, though it ended bittersweet (and kinda makes me want to punch Will as he was a flipping jackass), it was realistic and ended a lot than I expected.

When I was in high school, we had a genre of poems to study called 'Relationship' and everyone thought Relationship = romance. We eventually found out that it does not necessary means romance and kinda got turn off cause of a long winded poem *cough* william butler yeats's 'a prayer for my daughter' and switch that genre to 'Conflict'.  Looking back, it made me now realise that every relationship is a love story in its own way.

This book is a love story but a love story between Eve and her mum as well as the ones she love.

Overall, while there were some stuff in the book I was not a fan off I still really did enjoy it! A great and meaningful coming off story about grieve and moving on, love between a daughter and her mother (or in this case mother figures) and of cause a great road trip adventure!

6.5/10

Check this book out of the library or read a sample of the book before you go out and purchase it.

Book Review: Where the Road Takes Me by Jay McLean

Goodreads Description:

Chloe has one plan for the future, and one plan only: the road. She’s made a promise to herself: don’t let anyone in, and don’t let anyone love her. She’s learned the hard way what happens if she breaks her rules. So she’s focused on being invisible and waiting until she can set out on the road—her dream of freedom, at least for a little while.

Blake Hunter is a basketball star who has it all—everything about him looks perfect to those on the other side of his protective walls. He can’t let anyone see the shattered pieces behind the flawless facade or else all his hopes and dreams will disappear.

One dark night throws Chloe and Blake together, changing everything for Blake. For Chloe, nothing changes: she has the road, and she’s focused on it. But when the so-called perfect boy starts to notice the invisible girl, they discover that sometimes with love, no one knows where the road may lead

 

Title: Where the Road Takes Me
Author: Jay McLean
Genre: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary
Format: E-book
Pages: 323 pages
Publisher: Skyscape
Source: ARC was received in exchanged for an honest review from NetGalley

Where The Road Takes Me is a New Adult romance with Young Adult characters following Chloe and Blake who randomly meet when Blake was on his jog.

Chloe loss both her mum and aunt to breast cancer when she was very young and is afraid her families medical history will effect her. Cause of this she does not allow herself to be attach to anyone including her foster family and has no plans for the future except "The Road".

Blake is in a cross between choosing to follow his passion for Basketball and accepting a scholarship to Duke or following his father's path of getting enlisted into the army.

It took more than 30% for me to connect with the story but once the plot picks up I wiz trough this. Though the story was a but chopy it was honest and realistic about the whole What's next after High School life. Both Chloe and Blake are uncertainty about their future but they both opened up and choose their path with the help of each other and their family.

The romance was instalove and I was not a fan of it at first, however the more I read about Blake and Chloe's relationship the more I want to cheer for them as their relationship was sweet and heart-warming but also an emotional rollercoaster!

Chloe took a while for me to warm up to as she was selfish to push away everyone she loves just because she does not want her condition to affect them. She needed a bit of push to get her to be strong and brave for the future. Tough and sassy, though she came out as selfish, she's actually very caring and does not want to hurt the ones she loves like how she was hurt.

Blake was charming, funny and caring from the start. I also love how he was positive and works hard to make his and Chloe relationship work.

The book is heavy on the family elements which I love. I love reading the interaction with Chloe's foster family as well as Blake's mum. They are very supportive of the couple and were always there when they needed help.

Also Blake's best friend Josh was awesome to read about! I want a book (or novella) for Josh as I want to know more about his character!

The 'Red Letter Day' metaphor was well used and I actually learned some good stuff about it.

I only have a bit of mix feelings about one thing that is the whole 'realistic money issue'. Maybe its because I'm a money snob in reality but the way that issue was handled made me cringe. I meant I understand Blake's family is well off that his mum is sufficient to fund their whole road trip and I get it that his mum wanted to be pro active and 'upgrade' Chloe's car but the way it was handled was like money grows on trees!

This is a NA romance so expect profanities and steam.

Other than that I did like the story especially the family and road trip element. The ending was sweet, heart-warming and emotional that pulled my heart strings!

I heard so many great things about Jay McLean and I finally got a chance to read her book! I'm definitely checking out her More than this series which is her other series.

Check her out if you are a fan of Colleen Hoover and New Adult Romance!

Also Aussie readers check her out as she's an Aussie author!

 

Book Review : Counterfeit Love by Julie Fison

Description:

Lucy Yang is loving her first television job in Hong Kong. She works hard and plays hard, and she doesn’t have time for a relationship if she wants to become a TV news anchor by the time she’s twenty-one. Besides, what man could live up to her impossibly high standards?

Then she meets Byron, and her world is turned upside-down. Funny, clever and impossibly gorgeous, Byron might just satisfy all of Lucy’s criteria. Sure, he’s a little cagey about his job, but what businessman in Hong Kong doesn’t want to protect trade secrets?

But as Lucy desperately tries to get to the bottom of a potentially huge news story, Byron keeps popping up in the most unlikely places. Is it just a coincidence? Or is Lucy’s perfect man not so perfect after all?

Title: Counterfeit Love

Author: Julie Fison
Genre: Contemporary, YA, NA, Romance, Chick Lit, Mature YA
Pages: 234 pages
Source: Received from publisher via Smitten Romance Book Club

Cute, mysterious and happy reads!

So I recently read Julie Fison's 'Lust and Found' and a couple of days later they announced a new Smitten Romance book written by the same author and luckily I managed to snag another Smitten Romance novel for the Book Club!

This was really different from Lust and Found (in a good way) and the only similarity is that its once again sat in Asia, this time in Hong Kong. Once again the author managed to capture the setting and atmosphere of Hong Kong spot on! I love the details in the book including some of the landmarks and street names that were added in the book. Also the book is briefly set in Singapore and my home country Malaysia is mentioned several times trough out the book (I kinda got excited whenever I see the word Malaysia :P).

Lucy Yang, an Australian born Chinese, freshly graduated and recently moved to Hong Kong to peruse a career in journalism. Ambitious, hard working, career driven, Lucy is determined to be a TV news anchor by the age of Twenty One . I love her character the moment I opened the book! Sweet,fun loving, funny, ambitious, independent as well as super smart and quick thinking she is definitely my favorite character in the book!

Byron, super swoon worthy, flirty, smart, super lol funny and charming with a hint of mysteriousness that will keep you guessing more and more about him and when you do find out... keep all eyes in your sockets and your jaws off the floor as you're in for a plot twist! I enjoyed every moment guessing more and more about him and probably contributed to one of the biggest plot twist in the book! He's described to be a good looking Eurasian I'm guessing Chinese/American since he has an American accent... never really cleared on his ethnicity.

I liked how the relationship played out between them. The book talks a lot about trust in a relationship. While it took a while for Byron, since he was all secretive and mysterious about his life/job to be trusted by Lucy, I'm glad how he managed to redeemed himself in the end.

I love how the book follows the behind-the-scene of journalism/ TV reporting as well as Lucy on the job for a good chunk of the book. I also love how even though Lucy is determine to meet her goals, she does it in a fair/honest way.

Lucy's friend Charlotte was fun to read! Her job at a concierge service sounds really interesting. I wish there will be a book about Charlotte as it will be great to read more about her. Her friendship with Lucy is another thing I enjoyed!

The characters and plot were what made the book for me! They were likeable and had a great character development! Also the plot has an air of mystery that will keep you guessing as well as the plot twist, while a couple were predictable, most of them I seriously didn't see coming. Also Lucy's growth, career wise was nice and refreshing as well as something that a lot of girls/readers can take from reading the book. We need more strong and determine characters in books to give readers an example of hard work and determination pays off.

I overall enjoyed this and have a new book to place on my favorite shelve! A real page turner that I could not put down and I read it in less than a day! Also did I mentioned that this was super cute that I literally had a big smile on my face when was done with the book?!?! Good, Happy and Satisfying read!

Also its refreshing to read a casts of Asian characters as main characters that are different from stereotype 'Asian kid = super smart/nerdy sidekick etc' that are usually seen in books.

Check this out if you are up for a lighthearted, fluffy romance with a hint of mystery with strong, independent and well developed characters and an escape to Hong Kong. Also check it out if you are planning to travel to Hong Kong or even Asia in the new future as well as if you are planning to go into journalism

Speaking of which, reading this made me want to go to Hong Kong since its been years since I've been there :P 

Overall a goodreads and a new favorite smitten romance!

 What was the last romance you've read?

Book Review : Love is the New Black by Chrissie Keighery

Goodreads Description:

Piper Bancroft has been thrown a lifeline : her godmother has set her up with a job at a top fashion magazine in Melbourne. Having ruined her chances of getting into uni, Piper is ready to grasp this opportunity with both hands.

But when Piper starts her new job, she's as out of place as her fake Marc Jacobs handbag. Piper's determined to do a great job and prove she's got what it takes to make it. But there's one very large distraction getting in her way : her completely gorgeous and completely off-limits boss. He's be the perfect man - if only they'd met in another lifetime.

Title: Love is the New Black
Author:Chrissie Keighery
Genre: Chick Lit, YA, NA, Contemporary, Mature YA
Format: Paperback
Pages: 252
Source: Book Provided from the Publisher via Smitten Romance Book Club

 I love Smitten Romance books and own (at the moment) 5 of them so when the opportunity so read a new smitten book came along, I jumped on the opportunity.

Piper grew trough the book. She is really smart and talented at her job and though I felt the development a bit too fast pace. Also some of her decision made me cringe although *phew* they were resolved. I'm glad that she ended up with a happy ending in finding her passion in journalism and the right guy.

Mason... one word... swoon! Smart, charming, good looks not to mention CEO (okay acting CEO) of the top fashion magazines, Mason is more than just that! He is also caring and loyal not to mention trough out the book looks out for both Piper and Kara.

I love how this book took us to the 'behind the scenes' of the magazine making it not a picture perfect experience for Piper. You meet some nice characters and some nasty ones.

What's also interesting is that the book touch on the LGBT topic having that one of the characters, Kara is Gay and is forced to stay in the closet in order to keep her job and image as a well known model.

While the storyline was predictable and cliche still enjoyed how it played out as well as the development of the three main characters. It reminds me of Devil Wears Prada and Ugly Betty.

Definitely check this out if you want a quick light happy reads that is cute and fluffy and will leave you smitten. Also check it out if you are a fan of fashion and romance.  

 

 Have you read anything lately that has leaved you smitten?