Review: Something Like Normal

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

Release: June 19, 2012

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes and Noble

When Travis returns home from a stint in Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother’s stolen his girlfriend and his car, and he’s haunted by nightmares of his best friend’s death. It’s not until Travis runs into Harper, a girl he’s had a rocky relationship with since middle school, that life actually starts looking up. And as he and Harper see more of each other, he begins to pick his way through the minefield of family problems and post-traumatic stress to the possibility of a life that might resemble normal again. Travis’s dry sense of humor, and incredible sense of honor, make him an irresistible and eminently lovable hero.

Something Like Normal is a very honest and poignant look into how war affects a person--both physically and emotionally.

Travis has just returned from Afganistan to find his world turned on its axis. Haunted by the death of his friend, he finds everything unfulfilling as he battles the onslaught of flashbacks and nightmares. It isn't until Harper comes back into his life that things actually get back to "something like normal."

YA books are rarely written from the male perspective. So, I'll talk about Travis. Travis doesn't seem himself as a hero after the war. In fact, the war has made him feel less of a hero because he survived and his friend didn't. It was easy to sympathize with him. I also found Harper a refreshing character, who compliments Travis in many ways. However, I felt she was a little quick to forgive Travis. You'll have to read to find out the "whats" and "whys" of what Travis did.

And the romance between Travis and Harper was...sweet, but I couldn't help comparing them to other couples who had more chemistry. The chemistry is present in Something Like Normal, it's just not intense or in your face. Maybe that's a good thing, because this isn't about the romance. It's about recovering from war, and the effects war has on every-day people like Travis. This whole story is exceptionally "normal", but something about it makes it stand out. My biggest complaint comes from the fact that it ended too soon. Doller took the "easy way" out to by using a letter to tie up the loose ends. I wanted to read about the things the letter describes. I wanted to see Travis slowly recover and come to terms with what he experienced. I wanted to see more of Travis and Harper.

So, if you are looking for a quick contemporary read, check this book out. After the hype on various blogs, I was (admittedly) a little disappointed, but there's still a lot to like about Something Like Normal. It's greatest assets is overall believability. The events described in this book are things that happen every day. It's not dramatic. It's simple and honest, and a book I can heartily recommend.

RATING: 4 SLICES 

Summer Reads Giveaway

Okay, guys! Another giveaway, and this time it is International. Enter the raffle copter below to be entered in to win one book of your choice, no more than $15, released from May - August. 

Rules:
-Must be 13 years or older
-Must be a blog follower
-Book will be preordered if it is not yet released.
-Winner must respond within 48 hours with a mailing address. I reserve the right to pick another winner if I receive no response within that time period.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal: ReAwakened

I have the PLEASURE of revealing the cover of ReAwakened--the sequel to ReVamped. It comes out Fall, 2012.

So, without further ado...

THE COVER: 

ReVamped website: http://www.revampedbook.com/

ReVamped Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/revampedbook

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13495198-revamped

Ada Adam's Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Ada_Adams

ReVamped on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/ReVamped-Ada-Adams/dp/1470068982/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1?tag=vglnk-c498-20

ReVamped on B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/revamped-ada-adams/1109594714?ean=9781620953105

Cover Designer: Juliana Kolesova @ www.julianakolesova.com

“ReAwakened” Theme: Blood (hence the cover color).

What you do all think?! *pets the pretty, pretty cover*

Eh'hem.

Please leave a comment, telling me your thoughts--it could win you an ARC of ReAwakened. Yes, that's right. One commenter will be randomly selected and entered into a drawing for a ReAwakened ARC. Please realize that commenting and being "selected" does not guarantee you will receive the ARC. Once I choose a commenter, his/her information will be forwarded to Ada Adam's assistant, and a winner will then be chosen.

Please add you e-mail address in the comments, so I have a way to contact you. 

Good luck! You have until July 7th, 11 PM (Central), to comment.


ALSO: Ada Adams will be doing an hour-long live Tweet-Chat about anything and everything related to her writing. It starts TODAY, July 5th, at 5 PM EST.  Use the hashtag #RevampedChapt to join in on the fun.

WoW: Everbound

Everbound by Brodi Ashton

Release: January 22, 2013

Goodreads

WARNING: DO NOT READ THE SUMMARY IF YOU HAVEN'T READ EVERNEATH.

Two months ago, the Tunnels of the underworld came for Nikki Beckett. That night, Nikki's boyfriend, Jack, made the ultimate sacrifice. All Nikki wants is to save Jack before it's too late. All Cole wants is to find his queen - and he thinks Nikki is the one. Both determined, both desperate, Nikki and Cole form a tense alliance, leading them on a dangerous journey to The Heart of The Everneath.

I raved about the first book, Everneath. And now I'm desperate to get my hands on the sequel! GAH. The ending of Everneath was just too much of a tease and I must know what happens next! Plus, the cover is absolutely stunning. I love how the dress sort of dissolves into smoke in both the first book and its sequel. *sigh* 2013 is a long wait.

- - - - -

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly Meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine. Book bloggers present upcoming books they can’t wait to read and share their enthusiasm about new releases.

250 Follower Giveaway: Clues for Prize Pack Two

Okay, first off: thank you to all my followers! To celebrate, I am doing a massive giveaway.

But it won't be "easy".

I have three prize packs, two ARCs each, but YOU have to figure out what's in each pack. How? Once a week, for three weeks, I will provide three clues. Each set of clues correlates to one prize pack, and at the end of three weeks, I will announce the prize packs and the winners. Sound good? Okay, let's get started!

Rules:

1. Must be a blog follower.

2. There will be three winners.

3. Winners live in the US (I will do a international giveaway soon. I promise.)

4. Winners must responded within 48 hours, otherwise, I reserve the right to pick another winner.

5. First winner gets prize pack 1, second winner gets prize pack 2, and third winner gets prize pack 3.

- - - - -

The clues for prize pack two:

1. Both ARCS have the word "Shadow" in the title.

2. The first was published in June, the second published in January.

3. The first is fantasy, the second more murder mystery/thriller. 

If you can guess the two ARCs, you get two extra entries! Come back next week for prize pack three clues for another two entries. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Recommendation: Pushing the Limits

 Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry 

Release: July 31, 2012

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes and Noble

So wrong for each other...and yet so right.


No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.  Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

If I had to describe what Pushing the Limits is like, I'd say it's a mix of Anna and the French Kiss romance, with a twist of rawness ala Pretty Amy. For those who haven't read either book, let me explain...

Echo has a lot on her plate to deal with: an overbearing father, a step-mother she hates with a baby on the way, and a suppressed memory of her mother (who tried to kill her). That's just to name a few of the issues that Echo is facing in Pushing the Limits.

And then there's Noah. His parents died in a house fire. Since then, Noah's grades have plummeted and he and his brothers have been put into the foster care system. Unfortunately, an outburst with his first foster parent now negates Noah's right to see his two younger brothers. He is doing all he can to win them back from a supposedly abusive family. He wants to help them remember the life they once hand.

Both characters are so broken and in search of "normalcy"--I couldn't help but love them as individuals and as a couple. Echo thinks the key to finding normal lies with a broken car and lost memories of her mother. Noah thinks that he can find normalcy if he gains custody of his brothers. The counselor ends up putting these two broken teens together and what follows is an intense, roller-coster relationship, that had me smiling, laughing, and crying along with them.

Honestly, this book is phenomenal. Noah and Echo's relationship develops rather quickly, but I found their chemistry so real, that it didn't bother me at all. There's an understandable connection. But I will admit that, at first, Echo does borders along the line of excessive angst. However, Noah's strength and determination helps Echo remember and helps her stand on her own two feet.  I also found the mystery behind Echo's mother, and the mental and physical scars she inflicted, to be intriguing. Sometimes, withholding information from me (the reader), turns me off from a book. This wasn't the case with Pushing the Limits. With each breakthrough, my compassion for Echo grew--along with a hatred for Echo's father and stepmother. The ending was sweet, with all the loose ends tied. Simply put, I loved this book and I highly recommend it!

Thank you, HarlequinTeen for the e-ARC

RATING: 5 SLICES 

New Blog Design & Top Ten of 2012 (so far)

Guys, it's about time: I got a new blog design!

This template was made by the uber talented Hafsah of Icey Designs. Seriously, guys, check her out!

And to celebrate, I wanted to list some of my favorite reads of 2012, so far. It's halfway through the year, so I figured--why not? Some of the books are not released yet, but they were too good to NOT be included in this list. So, let's begin, in descending order:

10.  Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard

The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance 

9. Storm by Brigid Kemmerer

Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys all the ones she doesn't want. Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They're powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.


And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.


Secrets are hard to keep when your life's at stake. When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who's hiding the most dangerous truth of all.

8. Insurgent by Veronica Roth

One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

7. Defiance by C. J. Redwine

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city's brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father's apprentice, Logan--the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same one who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but a fierce belief in her father's survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city's top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor's impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can't be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

6. Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she’s returned—to her old life, her family, her friends—before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever. 

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can’t find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there’s a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he’ll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki’s time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she’s forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole’s

5. Pretty Amy by Lisa Burstein

Amy is fine living in the shadows of beautiful Lila and uber-cool Cassie, because at least she’s somewhat beautiful and uber-cool by association. But when their dates stand them up for prom, and the girls take matters into their own hands—earning them a night in jail outfitted in satin, stilettos, and Spanx—Amy discovers even a prom spent in handcuffs might be better than the humiliating “rehabilitation techniques” now filling up her summer. Worse, with Lila and Cassie parentally banned, Amy feels like she has nothing—like she is nothing.

Navigating unlikely alliances with her new coworker, two very different boys, and possibly even her parents, Amy struggles to decide if it’s worth being a best friend when it makes you a public enemy. Bringing readers along on an often hilarious and heartwarming journey, Amy finds that maybe getting a life only happens once you think your life is over.

4. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

So wrong for each other...and yet so right.


No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.  Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

3. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee. 

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling. 

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.

2. This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self.

To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live.
But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. 

When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

AND MY NUMBER ONE BOOK OF 2012 (SO FAR) IS......

1. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men—thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the kings council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she’ll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she’s bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it’s the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

There you have it! My new blog design and top 10 of 2012 (so far). Tell me what you think! And Don't forget to enter two new giveaways! I'll be posting the clues for prize pack two for the follower giveaway tomorrow. You don't want to miss out!