Of Triton by Anna Banks Review

Title: Of Triton   
Author: Anna Banks   
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends  
Release Date: May 28, 2013 
Received: For review in return for a honest review

Summary:  In this sequel to OF POSEIDON, Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half- Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?

Review:  After the ending of the first book Of Poseidon I was dying to read this next installment. And Anna Banks did not let me down.Of Triton takes place not too much later and immediately jumps into the action

Even though it had been a year since I read Of Poseidon I was quickly caught up. I was super excited to fall back into the story. Emma's mom and Grom were in Of Triton a lot more than in the first book and I liked getting to know them. Even though they were rather annoying at times. 

I was glued to this book. I was supposed to be studying for my finals and I was trying to read one chapter at a time in between studying but I kept on reading all the way through. Of Triton is funny, heartbreaking, and tense. 

I really liked reading more about the Syrena kingdom and how it works as well as getting to know a few more characters. With that being said I liked reading more about the existing characters. Especially Reyna and Rachel.

Overall this is a great series with awesome characters and plenty of laughs.

Blog Tour: Criminal by Terra Elan McVoy

Title: Criminal 
Author: Terra Elan McVoy
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Received: For blog tour in return for honest review

Summary:  Nikki’s life is far from perfect, but at least she has Dee. Her friends tell her that Dee is no good, but Nikki can’t imagine herself without him. He’s hot, he’s dangerous, he has her initials tattooed over his heart, and she loves him more than anything. There’s nothing Nikki wouldn’t do for Dee. Absolutely nothing.

So when Dee pulls Nikki into a crime—a crime that ends in murder—Nikki tells herself that it’s all for true love. Nothing can break them apart. Not the police. Not the arrest that lands Nikki in jail. Not even the investigators who want her to testify against him.

But what if Dee had motives that Nikki knew nothing about? Nikki’s love for Dee is supposed to be unconditional…but even true love has a limit. And Nikki just might have reached hers.

Review:  I had read Pure by Terra Elan McVoy and really liked it so I was excited to read Criminal even though I knew it was going to be completely different. I don't normally read books like this, not because I don't like them I just don't find myself drawn to them. But something made me want to pick Criminal up and I am so glad I did.

Criminal is really intense as you can probably tell from the summary, but let me tell you I was unprepared for the emotional roller coaster that Terra Elan McVoy put me through. I alternated from wanting to shake Nikki and give her a hug.

Nikki was the type of character you would expect, needy and naive. But the reasons McVoy gave for her being like that made a lot of sense.

This was a very character driven book and the interactions between Nikki and Dee and Nikki and Bird seemed so realistic it hurt me to think of anyone being in that type of situation.

Overall Criminal is a heartbreaking, character driven novel that will have you flipping the pages to find out what happens.

If you've read Criminal what did you think? Leave a comment and let me know!


Want to win a personalized copy of Criminal? Fill out the form to be entered!
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Or if you cannot wait and want to buy it now here are some links!

IndieBound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781442421622

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/criminal-terra-elan-mcvoy/1112033695?ean=9781442421622

Check out the rest of the blog tour!

Blog Tour Schedule:
May 07 | http://kellyvision.wordpress.com/ | @khager
May 08 | http://readnowsleeplater.com/ | @frootjoos
May 09 | http://hobbitsies.net/ | @hobbitsies
May 10 | http://tableforseven-julie.blogspot.com/ | @aprilmom00
May 11 | http://www.alexalovesbooks.com/ | @alexalovesbooks
May 13 | http://fictionfolio.com/ | @TaraMQ
May 16 | http://www.intothehallofbooks.com/ | @bookwormasheley
May 17 | http://www.areadersadventure.com/ | @readeradventure
May 20 | https://andiabcs.wordpress.com/ | @andi_s13
May 21 | http://ratherbereadingblog.com/ | @readinggals
May 22 | http://thebookcellarx.com | @thebookcellarx
May 23 | http://www.ramblingsofabooknerd.com/ | @sarabooknerd
May 24 | http://thegrownupya.wordpress.com/ | @grownupya
May 28 | http://chickloveslit.com/ | @shanynlee
May 29 | http://www.bookswithcass.com/ | @bookswithcass
May 31 | http://thecompulsivereader.com/ | @compelledtoread 

Game. Set. Match by Jennifer Iacopelli

Title: Game. Set. Match
Author:  Jennifer Iacopelli 
Publisher: Coliloquy LLC
Release Date: May 1, 2013
Received: For review for a honest review

Summary:  Nestled along the North Carolina coast, the Outer Banks Tennis Academy is the world's most elite training facility. In this pressure-cooker environment, futures are forged in blood and sweat, and dreams are shattered in an instant.

Penny Harrison, a rising female star, is determined to win the French Open and beat her archrival, Zina Lutrova. But when her coach imports British bad boy Alex Russell as her new training partner, will Penny be able to keep her laser-like focus?

Tennis is all Jasmine Randazzo has ever known. The daughter of two Grand Slam champions, she's hell-bent on extending her family’s legacy and writing her own happily-ever-after...until her chosen Prince Charming gives her the just-friends speech right before the biggest junior tournament of the year, the Outer Banks Classic.

With a powerful serve and killer forehand, newcomer Indiana Gaffney is turning heads. She’s thrilled by all of the attention, especially from Jack Harrison, Penny’s agent and hot older brother, except he keeps backing off every time things start heating up.

With so much at stake, dreams—and hearts—are bound to break. Welcome to OBX: Where LOVE is a four-letter word, on and off the court.

Review:  I am going to preface this review by saying that I have never been into tennis. I don't hate it or anything but it never made any sense to me, though I would occasionally watch it if it was on even though I had no idea what was happening. I say this so you will know that even though this book is about tennis players you will enjoy it even if you nothing about tennis.

Moving on... I really liked this book! It was the perfect combination of tennis, romantic relationships, and friendships. Speaking of the tennis; I really liked that part! I learned a lot about tennis, so much so that if I were to watch it I might have some idea what was going on. But like I said knowing tennis is not a big deal, it is more a story of girls reaching for their dreams, it just so happens that their dream is tennis.

The romantic relationships were so well written. There were two primary ones and they were written completely differently which I appreciated. The only real thing they had in common was the fact that the male counterparts are HOT. But my personal choice would be Jack but that's just me. ;)

I liked the rivalry between Indiana and Jasmine. It was realistic and I liked how it was worked on. I also liked the friendship between Indiana and Penny, it was nice to see two girls at different stages in their careers being their for each other.

Having each of the three girls narrate their own chapters added depth and understand to their characters that would not have been attained if it was from one POV.

Overall I recommend this book to people who both like, or don't understand tennis. The friendships and romance will keep you captivated till the end! I personally cannot wait till the next book!