Pivot Point by Kasie West

Reading Level: Ages 13 and up
Hardcover: 352 Pages
Release Date: February 12, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Narration: First Person: Addie
Genre: Supernatural/Superpowers
Challenge: Debut Author Challenge

Order On Amazon: Hardcover
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Order On Barnes and Noble:
Hardcover and Nook

Pivot Point Series
Book One: Pivot Point
Book Two: Untitled (2014)
Book Three: Untitled

Author's
( Goodreads ! Website ! Twitter )

Goodreads Synopsis:

 

Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .

Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.

My Review:

Gorgeous, gorgeous cover. I don't think anyone can argue with that. I love the fact that even though it's meant to be flashy and appealing to the eye, it still pertains to the story and somewhat echoes the two paths she sees herself taking and ultimately the difficult, life changing decision she has to make in the end. Cover designers, you deserve a pat on the back! The name, Pivot Point, also suits the story very well. I couldn't have picked a better one even if I tried.

Since Addie has the rare ability (Called Divergence) to "Search" the two different paths she can take based on a single choice, she uses it when she faces a difficult situation. I mean, who wouldn't? The majority of the story wasn't even real. Instead it was the path she could take if she decided to live with her mom in the Compound, which basically houses people who are mentally advanced, or if she went with her dad, who chose to live in the Norm world, otherwise known as our society today. Basically, Kasie alternated between these two paths every other chapter.

At first, it was easy to follow because they took place in two totally different settings with completely different characters. However, once the stories sort of merged together near the end, I had a hard time figuring out which life she was really living/searching. This alternating point of view (Don't think that's the correct term to label it, but I can't think of anything better to call it), also made it harder to become engrossed with the story. Every time I began to get into the natural flow of things, I was ripped from one world and roughly deposited into the other. However, for a debut novel, I think that Kasie did a pretty decent job at it. After all, alternating different stories is a pretty hard task to accomplish.

I'm a little bit perplexed as to if I like the protagonist, Addie, or not. Although she had many similar characteristics in both worlds, it seemed like she had two different personalities due to the people who surrounded her. Of course, there might be another reason for her certain actions because of some.....outer influences...Gah don't want to give it away, so never mind.

Addie was a book lover which was rare in the Compound, since in her community, things like that were all done on high tech holographic tablets that we haven't even invented yet, if they were done at all. Although she was more into classics than the novels I'm interested in reading, I still felt like I could relate to her better because of our common addiction to books. And despite the fact that she was best friends with the high spirited and rule breaking Laila, she was more of a quiet soul. The type of person you would see reading in a secluded corner at a party. Definitely something I would do as well. xD Addie was also deathly afraid of awkward silences, which as teens, we can all relate to. All of these little subtle facts gave her a depth that made her feel real, to the point where you feel like she could easily be your best friend in reality. Although I did question some of her actions, I've finally made my decision and decided that I like her after all. xD

We have two love interests, but before you go on complaining about another YA love triangle, Pivot Point wasn't like that at all. Since there are two different outcomes that haven't really happened yet...Argh....this is really hard to explain. *Facepalms* Anyways, I'm treading dangerously close to spoiler territory once again, so let me just tell you a little bit about each character. Let's start with Duke. Overall, he's charming, an amazing quarterback, knows how to work a crowd in his favor, and always gets what he wants. I have to admit that in the beginning I thought his slightly cocky attitude was a bit cute and endearing, but as the story progressed, I began to like him less and less.

Trevor was absolutely adorable. The playful and friendly banter between Addie and Trevor had me giggling out loud and earned me a few concerned glances from my parents. They didn't just automatically BAM! fall in love. It was a slow gradual transition from acquaintances to friendship to something more. There was this one particular part when Trevor listed all the little things that no one else would care to know about Addie, that made me tear up a little. But what I liked best about Trevor's character was that he wasn't perfect. Kasie created suspicion around him that had you wondering what he was really going to do......Dun dun dunnn. *Ques dramatic music*

I'm usually more into action novels with all that bloody sword fighting and face punching stuff, so I was a little hesitant to pick this one up. Because although it isn't completely contemporary, a genre that I usually despise wholeheartedly, it still had the makings of one. Yes, they were mentally advanced and had mind powers, but they didn't use them in glaringly obvious ways. I can't say that I didn't enjoy the action, because I read Pivot Point in one sitting, but I wasn't totally into it either. I was never like, "Oh gosh oh gosh what's going to happen next?!" and the big "revelations" and "plot twists" weren't all that shocking either. I saw 99% of them coming from a mile away.

Overall, Pivot Point had a intriguing premise and a unique structure that I didn't fall in love with or hate. If your into contemporary novels with a hint of supernatural then you'll probably love it! Pivot Point was better then most debut novels, and I'll definitely be looking forward to reading the rest of this series very soon. :D

Heroine- 4/5
Romance with Trevor- 5/5 One word. Adorable.
Romance with Duke- 2.5/5
Liked him in the beginning, but now I want to pummel him with my fist.
Action- 3/5
Kept me interested most of the time, but there was never really a lot happening.
Comedy- 4.5/5
Overall- 3.5/5

Book Blitz + Giveaway: Forty Days by Stephanie Parent

Forty Days by Stephanie Parent
Release Date: February 12, 2013
Series: Neima's Ark #1

The entire village knows Neima’s grandfather is a madman. For years the old man has prophesied that a great flood is coming, a flood disastrous enough to blot out the entire earth. He’s even built an enormous ark that he claims will allow his family to survive the deluge. But no one believes the ravings of a lunatic…

…until the rain starts. And doesn’t stop. Soon sixteen-year-old Neima finds her entire world transformed, her life and those of the people she loves in peril. Trapped on the ark with her grandfather Noah, the rest of her family, and a noisy, filthy, and hungry assortment of wild animals, will Neima find a way to survive?

With lions, tigers, and bears oh my, elephants and flamingos too, along with rivalries and betrayals, a mysterious stowaway, and perhaps even an unexpected romance, FORTY DAYS is not your grandfather’s Noah’s Ark story.

FORTY DAYS is approximately 45000 words, the length of a shorter novel, and is the first installment in a two-part epic story. It does contain a cliffhanger ending.

Readers looking for a traditional, religiously oriented version of the Noah’s Ark story should be warned that FORTY DAYS may not appeal to them. The novel will, however, appeal to lovers of apocalyptic fiction, historical fiction, and romance, as well as anyone who’s ever dreamed of having a baby elephant as a pet.

Find The Book:

( Goodreads ! Amazon )

 

About The Author:

Stephanie Parent is a graduate of the Master of Professional Writing program at USC and attended the Baltimore School for the Arts as a piano major. She moved to Los Angeles because of Francesca Lia Block's WEETZIE BAT books, which might give you some idea of how much books mean to her. She also loves dogs, books about dogs, and sugary coffee drinks both hot and cold.

 

 

Find The Author:

( Goodreads ! Website ! Twitter )

 

 

Excerpt:

I still remember the day I first heard about the rains that would supposedly fall till our cottages were submerged, our animals drowned, though I can’t recall who told me, or whether I simply overheard the gossip.  But I will never forget the way I tore through the village, heading straight for my father at work in the smithy, and I will never forget how I ran inside without calling out first, even though I was forbidden to do so.  Father was pouring molten bronze into molds, but to my young mind and eyes, it was as if he held liquid fire just a few hands’ breadth from his body, at the end of a long, precariously thin wooden handle.  If he was a more excitable man, a less steady one, there might have been a terrible accident.  As it was, the worst I received was a scolding once Father put the smoking-hot pot down on the smith stone and led me back outside, away from the open flame and molten metal.  And even his reprimand was light, once he realized how frightened I was; he never could be harsh with me.  I remember how he gathered me in his arms, so close that I rested my cheek against the warm leather of his apron and breathed in the smoky residue that lingered there.  He told me that there would be no flood, that old Noah wasn’t right in the head, though I should never say so aloud.

“But how can you know?” I whispered into his chest.

He breathed out, long and deep, and I bit my lip as I waited for him to speak.  “I suppose nothing in this world is certain,” he said at last.  “But I promise that if you, if any member of our family is ever in danger, I’ll do everything I can to protect you.”

Now, as I wash Father’s tunics in the river, I realize I can’t remember the last time I visited him at the smithy, or even exchanged more than a few words with him over supper.  The ark has kept him busy, I suppose.

It takes me a minute to notice Derya is no longer chattering beside me, and I crane my neck to see her standing beside Jorin, facing away from the river.  “Can you imagine,” she says softly, “all of this, just…gone?”

I turn and follow her gaze, taking it all in: the mud-brick cottages, the bits of straw embedded in their walls and roofs gleaming golden in the sun; the fields of wheat and barley, low and parched now that the harvest has ended; the pens of grazing goats and cattle and sheep; the forested hills that cup our valley in their protective hands.  It may not be much, in the scheme of the wide world I’ve heard tales of but never seen, and I may not always feel welcome here.  But this is the only home I’ve ever known, and no, I cannot imagine it destroyed.    

Giveaway (Open INTL) 

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Feature and Follow (24)

Feature and Follow is a weekly meme hosted by Alison Can Read and Parajunkee!

 

 

Question: Write a letter to your favorite character. Rant, rave or gush…just pretend like they are real and you just want to let them know a "few things".

 

Answer:

 

Dear Daemon:

 

Please hold while I attempt to arrange my thoughts into coherent sense. *Five Hours Later* Sadly, at the moment I'm completely tongue tied. What the heck am I supposed to say to the hottest book character in existence? All you need to know is that if you ever decide to dump your girlfriend, I'm available. *gives sly wink* ;)

 

P.S. Not that I have anything against you Katy, please don't hurt me with your scary badass powers. *cringes*

 

 Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

 

How about you?

What would you say?

Cover Reveal: Accession by Terah Edun

 Accession by Terah Edun

Release Date: September 13, 2013

Series: Sarath Web #1

 

 

Blurb Teaser:

 

She will be more powerful than the Blood could have ever imagined. 


He will not claim a mortal Queen and will do anything to stop her.
Their battle will begin in September 2013.

 

Topics: Magic, Fantasy, Romance, High School
Studio: MacBook Pro 13
Director: Terah Edun
Cast: Amelie Thompson, Richard LeCross
Genre: Witchy Romantic Thriller
Book Release Date: In stores Friday the 13th, September 2013
Rating: PG-13

 

Note: This cover reveal is in honor of the release of Beautiful Creatures on 2/13/13.

 

Find The Book:

( Goodreads )

 

About The Author:

 

Terah Edun is an international development professional and author/lover of all things Young Adult Fantasy fiction. She is a native Georgian, adoptive Washingtonian, unrepentant expat currently living in South Sudan, brilliant dreamer, lover of dogs and not-so-closet geek. Her first novel, Red Madrassa, was released on November 8th and her second novel, Sworn to Raise, comes out in March 2013.

 

Find The Author:

( Goodreads ! Website ! Twitter ! Facebook )

 

 

 

Teaser Tuesdays (19)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

 

 

To participate all you have to do is:

• Grab your current read.
• Open to a random page.
• Share "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure what you share doesn't give to much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!

 

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

 

 

"Well, if you're worried about your mother showing me your most embarassing childhood pictures, don't be." Thank God. "I've already seen them." Damn it.

Hardcover- Pg. 66

 

"But when I reached inside my bag for my sketchbook, my hand closed over that stray piece of paper. I withdrew it. Unfolded it. I read what it said as the hair rose on the back of my neck: I see you.

Hardcover- Pg. 241