School for Sidekicks review and giveaway!

Title: School for Sidekicks
Author: Kelly McCullough
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Release Date: August 4, 2015
Received From: Publisher as part of a book tour. Does not effect my review.

Synopsis: Being a hero isn't always what it's cracked up to be in this funny and genuine novel from adult fantasy author Kelly McCullough.
Evan Quick is a GIANT superhero geek who dreams of one day becoming a superhero himself. Every morning he checks to see if he's developed his powers overnight, and every day there's nothing. No flying, no super strength, no invulnerability—that always hurts to check—no telepathy, no magic. Not even the ability to turn off the alarm clock without smacking the switch.
But then Evan somehow manages to survive a supervillian's death ray, and is sent to the Academy for Metahuman Operatives. Unfortunately, his new school is not what he expected, and instead of fighting bad guys, Evan finds himself blacklisted, and on the wrong side of the school's director. If Evan ever wants to realize his dream, he must convince his "mentor" Foxman, a semi-retired has-been, to become a real hero once again.

 Review: Do you remember the movie Sky High? Well if you haven't seen it I recommnd it. But if you liked that movie I think you will enjoy School for Sidekicks.

This is a fun book where a kid who adores superheroes actually beocmes one, and it is nothing like he would have imagined. Evan was funny and you could tell he really wanted to do the right thing. Also I liked the friends he made while at AMO.

The mythology of the superpowers in this book was very interesting. I liekd getting to understand it better and digging deeper into what was going on. I do think that the back of the book gives a little too much away though.

Overall I liked this book, it was fun, fast paced and interesting. If you are a fan of superhero stories then I think this is a book for you!

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The Look of Love by Bella Andre

Title: The Look of Love (The Sullivan's #1)
Author: Bella Andre
Release Date: January 1, 2011
Received From: Library

Synopsis: With THE LOOK OF LOVE, bestselling author Bella Andre introduces you the Sullivan family. In this fun and emotional contemporary romance series, when a Sullivan bad boy falls...he falls hard. And it's forever.

Chloe Peterson is having a bad night. A really bad night. The large bruise on her cheek can attest to that. And when her car skids off the side of a wet country road straight into a ditch, she’s convinced even the gorgeous guy who rescues her in the middle of the rain storm must be too good to be true. Or is he?

As a successful photographer who frequently travels around the world, Chase Sullivan has his pick of beautiful women, and whenever he’s home in San Francisco, one of his seven siblings is usually up for causing a little fun trouble. Chase thinks his life is great just as it is—until the night he finds Chloe and her totaled car on the side of the road in Napa Valley. Not only has he never met anyone so lovely, both inside and out, but he quickly realizes she has much bigger problems than her damaged car. Soon, he is willing to move mountains to love—and protect—her, but will she let him?

Chloe vows never to make the mistake of trusting a man again. Only, with every loving look Chase gives her—and every sinfully sweet caress—as the attraction between them sparks and sizzles, she can’t help but wonder if she’s met the only exception. And although Chase didn’t realize his life was going to change forever in an instant, amazingly, he isn’t the least bit interested in fighting that change. Instead, he’s gearing up for a different fight altogether…for Chloe’s heart.

Review:
I received a copy of the fourth book in The Sullivan's Series from ALA and fell in love (review coming soon.) Because of this I knew I had to go back to the beginning and read the rest of them.

Each story in the Sullivan's series is the story of one of the eight Sullivan kids The Look of Love is Chase's story. I knew what happened to him and Chloe because I read I Only Have Eyes For You but I was still super excited to see how their relationship grew and came to be.

With each one of these books I read I fall more in love with the Sullivan family. Yes they have rocky relationships but they all care so much for each other and want the best for them even if that person may not agree. Chase and Chloe really only come into contact with Marcus, the oldest Sullivan and the subject of the second book. I loved seeing how open Marcus was with Chloe even though it would be completely weird to have your brother bring some random girl to your house.

Most of The Look of Love takes place in Marcus' vineyard. It was so gorgeous sounding and Bella Andre made me want to be there. It was also the perfect place for a romance novel to be set. Chase was shooting at the vineyard and I loved watching Chloe become more comfortable with both Chase and his team.

I don't think I could be as brave as Chloe was, I mean getting into a car with a perfect stranger in the middle of the night. Not that she really had many more options. I really felt for Chloe, she had gone though so much that I could completely understand her trepidation.

The Look of Love like all of Bella Andre's books is very sexy, but I love how all of the Sullivan men care about their women. It makes it seem like less of an overtaking and domineering relationship. Especially since that is what Chloe needed.

Basically you should read this series so we can squee about them together! And even if you have only read historical romance like I had you will still like it!

The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen (Audio Review)

Title: The False Prince
Author: Jennifer Nielsen
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: April 1, 2012
Received From: Library

Synopsis: THE FALSE PRINCE is the thrilling first book in a brand-new trilogy filled with danger and deceit and hidden identities that will have readers rushing breathlessly to the end.

In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.

As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.

An extraordinary adventure filled with danger and action, lies and deadly truths that will have readers clinging to the edge of their seats.

Review:
I listened to The False Prince on audio and I really enjoyed it! The reader was fantastic and he totally embodied not only Sage but all the other characters. I think when I read the second book it will probably be in his voice. So if you have the opportunity to listen to this one I definitely recommend it! Also it would be great for road trips with your family because it is technically middle grade.

I love fantasy books. While I really enjoy all other types of books, fantasy is my love. Though even I can admit sometimes the plots feel contrived. Not The False Prince, the idea is very similar to others. A group trying to take over a country you know the story. But how often does it happen that they try to take over the country by trying to essentially bring the Prince back from the dead. (He has been missing/presumed dead. No sorcery or necromancy here)

I loved all four boys. They were all so different and so like many other boys that I have known over the course of my life. But even with that I fell in love with Sage. He is the perfect middle grade boy character. His is a rascal, smart, and funny. Plus he has a few more tricks up his sleeve than you may think.

Jennifer Nielsen created a richly developed story with just enough twists and turns to make it interesting. Also, I loved the major plot twist. It was perfect and executed so well!

Basically if you are looking for a book to read with your kids or just plain want a good fantasy to read yourself, The False Prince is right for you. And even better the second book; The Runaway King is already out so you don't have to wait!

It is debated on whether or not The False Prince is MG or YA but it does not really matter since it is really good for MG on up!


Also through the 31st The False Prince audiobook is one of the free SYNC titles so if you want to try the audio: http://www.audiobooksync.com/2013/07/25/sync-has-a-secret-identity-week-9/

Mayhem (Mystix #3)

Title:  Mayhem (Mystix #3)

Author:  Artist Arthur

Publisher:  Kimani Tru

Release Date:  July 26, 2011

Received From:  NetGalley

Summary: 

A lot can change in a few months. Jake Palmer is living proof of that. In a short time, the once-shy loner has discovered his incredible supernatural abilities and forged a tight bond with his fellow Mystyx. What’s more—he’s fallen for his best friend, Krystal. And fallen hard.
Still, some things remain the same—like the jocks who keep bullying him. Even though they have no idea how powerful Jake has become. And while he tries to follow Krystal’s advice, he may not be able to keep his cool much longer. But there are bigger problems ahead, because the darkness that’s been hovering nearby is about to descend on the town of Lincoln, Connecticut. And when it does, the Mystyx will learn who to trust, who to fear and just how much is at stake…

Review:

 

During the first two books Jake was not my favorite character. He annoyed me and I found him to be moody and unhelpful. This book made me like him better.

 

In this book we get to see the reasons Jake does what he does as well as get a better look into his family life. I really liked this because it allowed me to understand him better and understand his motives.

 

I liked where the plot went in this book, everything became a little more solid and connected, less blowing in the wind. I can’t wait for the next book, and I am super excited for some sort of conclusion!

 

(Tour through Teen {Book} Scene)

 

 

 

Anxious Hearts

Title:  Anxious Hearts

Author:  Tucker Shaw

Publisher:  Amulet Books

Release Date:  May 1, 2010

Received From:  ATWT

“Evangeline,” he repeated, calling at a whisper. “Evangeline.” He was not calling that she may hear, he was calling that somehow her soul might know that he was devoted entirely to her, only to her. “Evangeline, I will find you." Eva and Gabe explore the golden forest of their seaside Maine town, unknowingly tracing the footsteps of two teens, Evangeline and Gabriel, who once lived in the idyllic wooded village of Acadia more than one hundred years ago. On the day that Evangeline and Gabriel were be wed, their village was attacked and the two were separated. And now in the present, Gabe has mysteriously disappeared from Eva.
A dreamlike, loose retelling of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous love poem “Evangeline,” Anxious Hearts tells an epic tale of unrequited love and the hope that true love can be reunited.

This was a very interesting story. It was told from two perspectives one, Eva from the present time and two, Gabriel from the poem. It was interesting because the stories were not intertwined but they were similar so it was cool to see two different perspectives on undying love. But it was slightly confusing in the very beginning, but then I got used to the way the book flowed.

Eva and Gabe's story was more relate able I guess because it took place in present time, and had relate able family relationships and cultural understandings. I also liked how Eva dealt with the situations put in front of her, she dealt with the problems in realistic and believable ways.

Evangeline and Gabriel's story was a little harder to follow, and I did not like it as much, but it was still very touching and interesting.

I liked the way that Eva and Gabe's story was told from Eva's side, and how Evangeline and Gabriel's story was told by Gabriel. I liked that contrast between the two stories.

Pros

• 2 different stories
• different narrator for each story
• different premise

Cons

• Format was hard to get into in the beginning
• The middle of the stories were slow
• Somewhat hard to follow at times

Overall I liked the book but I wish it had flowed better at times!

The Rise of Renegade X

Title: The Rise of Renegade X

Author:  Chelsea Campbell

Publisher:  Egmont USA

Release Date:  May 11, 2010

Received From:  Publisher via Teen {Book} Scene

Sixteen-year-old Damien Locke has a plan: major in messing with people at the local supervillain university and become a professional evil genius, just like his supervillain mom. But when he discovers the shameful secret she's been hiding all these years, that the one-night stand that spawned him was actually with a superhero, everything gets messed up. His father's too moral for his own good, so when he finds out Damien exists, he actually wants him to come live with him and his goody-goody superhero family. Damien gets shipped off to stay with them in their suburban hellhole, and he has only six weeks to prove he's not a hero in any way, or else he's stuck living with them for the rest of his life, or until he turns eighteen, whichever comes first.

To get out of this mess, Damien has to survive his dad's "flying lessons" that involve throwing him off the tallest building in the city--despite his nearly debilitating fear of heights--thwarting the eccentric teen scientist who insists she's his sidekick, and keeping his supervillain girlfriend from finding out the truth. But when Damien uncovers a dastardly plot to turn all the superheroes into mindless zombie slaves, a plan hatched by his own mom, he discovers he cares about his new family more than he thought. Now he has to choose: go back to his life of villainy and let his family become zombies, or stand up to his mom and become a real hero.

Super books are awesome! There are so many different ways you could go, and Campbell has chosen a really cool way to present the struggle between good and evil.

First off, Damien is a kick a** main character. He has his way and unless you follow it, you will be in a world of pain and or embarrassment. He was funny, sarcastic (something I like) and overall hilarious. Reading his dialogue made me want to know his even if at times he acted like a jerk. The internal struggle he faces in this book is illustrated by his schemes, but also his willingness to help those in need. I don't read many books with male main characters but Damian makes me want to read more! He seems hard and rugged on the outside but he does actually care what others think of him. He also sounds really hot!

Campbell does not illusion you into thinking that Damian wants anything to do with being a superhero, or with even being a non-arrogant human being. I mean the book starts with him selling tickets to his 16th birthday party, where his fate of being either a villain or a hero is sealed.

PROS
* Damian
*The premise
*The secondary characters
*The dialogue
*Open ended ending
*Hilarious

CONS
*Wordy at times 
*Slightly confusing at times
*Open ended ending

  Definitely check out this book. I recommend it especially for reluctant older guy readers!

Be sure to check out my guest post with Chelsea as well as a giveaway tomorrow!