The Kiss of Deception Review

ISBN: 978-0805099232
July 15, 2014
Amazon Link

I was given a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Princess Lia is the First Daughter of Morrigan betrothed to the Prince of Dalbrek, to whom she never met. As the First Daughter, Lia will grow into her gift of sight given from the Gods. On the morning of her wedding day she escapes with her best friend Pauline. Together they seek shelter working as barmaids. Soon after, two brooding men named Rafe and Kaden walk in. One of them is an assassin and the other is the Prince of Dalbrek. Both men decide to hang around the inn and bar for half the summer.

This book is different because from the start a love triangle begins to form. I found the plot somewhat predictable at times but entertaining enough for me to keep reading. I didn’t connect well with the main character Lia. At times, I considered her selfish for keeping both men close to her side especially when feelings for a male became prominent. The book transitioned from spring to summer over a four month period. Both assassin and Prince stayed in the village for quite a while.

I loved the writing style. I truly felt like I was taken back to the medieval times. I pictured the cast of the CW TV network show, Reign as I read the book. I was impressed at how long the secret was kept to determine who the prince and the assassin were. Throughout the book, I realized my vote swayed. However, my first prediction was correct.

I met Mary last year at TBF 2013. I attended her panel on robotic romance. Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles), Jessica Brody (Unremembered), and Lauren DeStefano (Chemical Garden) were also featured authors on the panel.

This is my first book I read of Mary E. Pearson. I have started her first novel The Adoration of Jenna Fox and so far I am enjoying the story. Have you read any of her work? Do you like her writing style? Could you guess who was who in The Kiss of Deception? Comment below to let me know! Sign up for my email newsletter at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/mandemread , follow me on Twitter @Miaswartz1 and add me to your Circle on Google Plus at mimizane@gmail.com. Check in every two weeks for more updates and posts!

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TBF News

As I mentioned before, I am attending the 9th annual TBF in May 2014 at Nazareth College in Rochester, New York. This will be my second year attending the event. I invited three friends of mine to join me who are (like me) Heidelberg University graduates. The drive over from Ohio to New York is four and half hours long therefore, my friends and I will read Ann Brashares's new book The Here and Now, (before we leave) as a topic of conversation.

List of Authors coming to TBF 2014

Key:

*: I own their work

@: I read their work

#:I met them before   

  Laurie Halse Anderson*

     Jay Asher*

     Jonathan Auxier

     Paolo Bacigalupi*

     Charles Benoit*#

     Ann Brashares*@

     Cecil Castellucci*@

     Joelle Charbonneau*@

     Alexandra Coutts*

     Gina Damico

     Simone Elkeles*@#

     Lisa Greenwald

     Ellen Hopkins*#

     A. S. King*

Amber Lough

     Alethea Kontis*@

     E. Lockhart*

     Alex London*@

     Michelle Madow

     Lauren Myracle*

     G. Neri

     Nancy Ohlin

     Marie Rutkoski* 

    Tess Sharpe

Neal Shusterman*

     Andrew Smith*

     Meagan Spooner*@

     Aaron Starmer

     Margaret Stohl*@

     Cristin Terrill*

     Terry Trueman#

I own over 35 books from these authors that I plan to have signed. Most of these books I own on my Kindle Keyboard. Joelle Charbonneau, Amber Lough and Alex London have books set to release after TBF. I was lucky enough to receive ARCs including Joelle Charbonneau's Graduation Day (June 17, 2014) and Alex London's Guardian (May 29, 2014). Several authors attended TBF last year and toured in Columbus, Ohio the week before which is how I met a few of them already.

With just over a month left, I plan to read three more authors before TBF, including Cristin Terrill's All Our Yesterdays, Marie Rutkoski's The Shadow Society, and Lauren Myracle's The Infinite Moment of Us. Out of all the authors, I’m extremely anxious to meet Cecil Castellucci. Every year there is an overflowing amount of young adult subgenres, for example in 2009, the trend was vampires; in 2010, werewolves; in 2013, dystopians; and this year the trend is aliens. Cecil Castelucci’s Tin Star was an amazing addition to the collection. 

Have you read any of these author's work? Do you have any recommendations? Comment below to let me know! Sign up for my email newsletter at https://groups.google.com/d/forum/mandemread , follow me on Twitter @Miaswartz1 and add me to your Circle on Google Plus at mimizane@gmail.com.

Check in every two weeks for more updates and posts!

My friends who are going also have Blogs. Check out the list of authors they are looking forward to meet at TBF.

Erin's http://www.booklovingnut.blogspot.com and

Signy's http://withindemise.blogspot.com 

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The Books that I Own

Amazon Review: The Hundred

     

ISBN: 978-0316234474
September 3, 2013
Amazon Link

After a post-apocalypse, Earth is no longer safe and livable. Forced to live in space ships, the oxygen supply is depleting. With no other choice, 100 delinquents are sent to Earth to test and declare it safe. The book is told from four points of view Clarke, Wells, Glass, and Ballemy.

The audience is first introduced to Clarke. The story begins with guards releasing her from her prison cell on a space ship. In her prospective she thinks she is about to be executed, the audience knows nothing of her past. However, in time we see the past and how she came to be one of the hundred delinquents. Wells is the son of the commander in charge. Ballemy is the typical bad boy who cares for the people that are dear to him. Glass has a tragic past and the character to root for.

I found that Glass was the most interesting of the four. Her past was delicate, passionate and relatable. I couldn’t relate to the other characters very well. Clarke was selfish and Wells needed to be slapped in the face to come out of the “Imsoinlovewithyouforever” coma phase with Clarke. Ballemy was a handful he needed to chill out, he made my eyes roll. It would have been interesting to have Wells and Ballemy die during or soon after the crash landing to Earth. Two points of view from Clarke and Glass’s perspective would be easier to understand; Clarke and Glass had the most history and were the most intriguing of the bunch. I didn’t understand the need for Ballemy’s character at all.

The book is a very short and fast read but difficult to start. The Hundred reads more like a script. The dialogue is stiff and awkward. It is sometimes hard to tell the past from the present.

If you were a fan of The Vampire Diaries (TVD) before the show came out then this book is for you. The Hundred will be a TV series on the CW to air in March 2014.Because I read the book, I will watch the TV show but I don’t think I will continue with the series.

I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.

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