Book Review: Pivot Point by Kasie West

Book: Pivot Point by Kasie West
Genre: YA paranormal
Rating: ★★★★★
For: Fun
From: bought from Amazon

What a unique concept, this book! Well, there ARE people with supernatural powers, which has been done before a lot, but the interesting bit comes when the heroine (Addison is her name) of the story has to make a decision... whether to stay with her dad... or her mom... when they suddenly announce they are getting divorced.

The cool thing about our girl and making decisions is, she can live out what will happen with each choice, and then come back to the "pivot point" and decide which decision will be better. That's her superpower. Sounds nice, eh? Can you imagine all the times we could have used this in our lives?

So suddenly we are with her as she lives both of those stories. One chapter her life is with her dad who goes off to live with the "normal" people, and the next chapter is her life with her mom who stays in the sheltered and hidden "special" people city. The chapters go back and forth like that until we, the readers, along with Addison can see that... oh my CRAP, this is NOT going to be an easy decision! What is she going to do!!??

Because, of course, there are many complications and there's a bad guy and stuff happens, really bad stuff, and there are two guys, of course, so it's kind of like a love triangle, but NOT, and you start cheering for a certain choice, but you just can't be sure if it's really the best one even yet, and... yeah... it gets a bit intense!

I read it in just a couple of sittings and it was awesome fun.

Bottom line: I loved it!

Other Reviews:

You know you’re reading a great book when your favorite characters screw up so horribly you’re angry the rest of the day. From Miss Remmers Reviews

There's enough mystery and intrigue to keep readers guessing all the way up until the very end, too. From A Backwards Story

Pivot Point has a bit of that, but what makes it different (other than the paranormal twist) is that it’s brimming with originality and suspense, and it has a structure that can only be described as pure genius.From Book Nook

Watching Addie choose her path was tough. But ... did that means that the other path she didn't choose never really happened? From YA Romantics

What I Did On My Spring Break Vacation

We've done some pretty cool things for spring break vacations in the past. Two different cruises, hauling our trailer to San Francisco, driving to San Diego, driving to Phoenix, seeing Mesa Verde, just to name a few.

But this spring break was really different. The kids went their separate ways and we, the parents, stayed home! Weird!

The youngest went to Disneyland with the school's orchestra and choir. And the 18 year old flew on his own to Texas to hang out with a friend who moved there several months ago.

You'd think with our sudden freedom from kid responsibilities we would be taking off on our own, or doing something semi-exciting. But we had work, and we didn't really have enough time to do anything "real" so, we just stayed home and did our normal things sans kids.

Like:

-- reading a lot (I was actually sort of stuck on the reading until I picked up Daughter of Smoke and Bone.Wow.)
-- catching up on Revenge and Vampire Diaries (Elijah came back!)
-- going out to eat, just once though. The Easter leftovers lasted FOREVER!
-- going to TWO movies (so I guess this may have been a bit unusual)
-- going to one of those movies all by myself! I may now have something to cross off my bucket list! I saw Jack and I LOVED it. Official review to come soon.
-- spending money at Hobby Lobby with this result:

I've been wanting to frame this picture forever.

I bought words for the wall! And a new frame for the new family picture.
And then rearranged it all.

(I thought it would be fun for the kids to come home to something "new.")

-- not having to go to the store every other day for milk, bread, cereal and lunch snacks.
-- not having to coordinate the car usage. Interesting how much that stresses me out.
-- going for three straight worry-free days! I decided during those three days I truly would try to lay down all stress and not worry and just relax. I think it actually worked. And that was the most awesome part of this spring break!

Everyone came home safe and sound. I did worry on their travel days, I mean, how could I not, right? But all was well, everyone had a great time. Now this weekend with LDS conference happening, the break sort of continues, and then tomorrow... we'll be back at the normal routine!

For a few weeks, anyway, and then everything will change again! To life, to life!

Cover Reveal: A Change of Plans by Donna K. Weaver

This post should probably go up on a Wednesday with that Waiting on Wednesday meme that I've never actually participated in, but I couldn't wait. So I'm sharing now!

There's a new book coming out in June (June 1st to be specific, published by Rhemalda Publishing) that I'm really looking forward to! It's called A Change of Plans by Donna K. Weaver, yet another awesome Utah author, and one that works just down the hall from me besides! How cool is that?

Here's what it's about:

When Lyn sets off on her supposedly uncomplicated and unromantic cruise, she never dreams it will include pirates. All the 25-year-old, Colorado high school teacher wants to do is forget that her dead fiancé was a cheating scumbag. Lyn plans a vacation diversion; fate provides Braedon, an intriguing surgeon. She finds herself drawn to him: his gentle humor, his love of music, and even his willingness to let her take him down during morning karate practices. Against the backdrop of the ship’s make-believe world and temporary friendships, her emotions come alive.

However, fear is an emotion, too. Unaware of the sensitive waters he's navigating, Braedon moves to take their relationship beyond friendship--on the very anniversary Lyn is on the cruise to forget. Lyn's painful memories are too powerful, and she runs from Braedon and what he has to offer.

Their confusing relationship is bad enough, but when the pair finds themselves on one of the cruise's snorkeling excursions in American Samoa things get worse. Paradise turns to piracy when their party is kidnapped and Lyn's fear of a fairytale turns grim. Now she must fight alongside the man she rejected, first for their freedom and then against storms, sharks, and shipwreck.

It's a cruise romance! And then pirates? I love it!

How about a book trailer:

More about Donna:

Donna K. Weaver is a Navy brat who joined the Army and has lived in Asia and Europe. Because she sailed the Pacific three times as a child, she loves cruising and wishes she could accrue enough vacation time to do more of it with her husband.

At fifty, Donna decided to study karate and earned her black belt in Shorei Kempo.

After recording city council minutes for twenty years, Donna decided to write something a little longer and with a lot more emotion--and kissing.

Donna and her husband reside in Utah, they have six children and eight grandchildren who live all over the world.

Here are her links:

Website and blog
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads

Stay tuned for a review in a few months!

Movie Review: The Host

Movie: The Host
Genre: SciFi
Starring:  Saoirse Ronan, Max Irons, Jake Abel
Rating: PG-13
My Rating: One and a half thumbs up. 

I guess this movie isn't getting the best reviews from the critics, but what do they know? I always want to decide for myself anyway.. usually (sometimes I believe them.) So I went with an open mind, and... I liked it just fine!

If you've read the book you'll know the general plot, but if you haven't, here it is. An alien race has taken over, they call themselves "souls" and they plant themselves into human bodies. When one particular human, Melanie, is taken over by her alien, Wanderer, she doesn't go quietly. Which means there's now two minds inside one body and they are at odds.

After not very long, however, Melanie talks Wanderer into running away and they find a human colony hiding in a desert cave. It's there that things really get complicated.

We went out to eat just before the movie and the waitress warned us that the "voice in the head" bits were a little cheesy so I particularly noticed that. And yes, it was a little cheesy, but I'm not sure how they could of done this otherwise. After awhile, I got used to it.

I thought the casting was great. The leader of the human camp, Jeb I think his name is, was perfect. The whole time I kept thinking it was Jeff Bridges, but I couldn't quite make that work. Turns out it's William Hurt. He is perfect. The two love interest guys, they were great too (the son of Jeremy Irons? Anyone?) I had to get used to the girl (Melanie/Wanda) but she wasn't bad either!

Anyway, in the end it was all sorts of emotional and got me feeling perfectly weepy. Which is a good thing in a movie, right? Oh, and also... lots of kissing. :)

Bottom line: I liked it!

Authors Pick Five: Jennifer A. Nielsen

Today I have the pleasure of sharing another Authors Pick Five list! Please welcome Jennifer A. Nielsen, author of The False Prince and The Runaway King, some of my new favorite fantasy stories!

I've recently asked her the big question:

What Five Books Are Most Important or Influential to You?

This is what she had to say:

1.  Animal Farm: This was one of the first books that really made me think about the larger world around me. Beyond the idea of reading for pleasure, I began to read for ideas, opinions, and to help me build a foundation of my personal philosophies.

2.  The Book of Mormon: Along with the Bible, this book is the keystone of my religious beliefs. My life is better with the principles of this book as a compass.

3.  The Outsiders: I had always been a reader, but S.E. Hinton’s book, THE OUTSIDERS, had a huge impact on my choice of career. Not only was it a great story that I truly believed was written just for me (I still have some passages memorized), it also became the book that convinced me I wanted to write too.

4.  Harry Potter: When I started writing with the hope of becoming published, I was doing adult women’s suspense. The stories weren’t terrible, but they weren’t publishable either. At the time, I was also enthusiastically reading the HARRY POTTER stories. About six months before the release of the final book, I happened upon a fan fiction site that issued a challenge: Could I write my own version of the final book? The challenge appealed to me. I had my own theories, of course, and the idea of taking all of JK Rowling’s threads and pulling them together sounded so exciting. So I started writing it in a furiously fun couple of weeks. The story was completely unworthy for anyone else’s eyes, but I discovered something wonderful in the process – I was having amazing fun writing in children’s fantasy. This seven-book series and the fan challenge led me to find the genre that was right for me.

5.  The Hiding Place: I discovered this incredible book by Corrie Ten Boom many years ago, and loved it so much that I bookmarked some of the pages to copy and save for reference when I needed the stories. Many of the most valuable character lessons I’ve ever learned came from this book, about courage, faith, forgiveness, as well as the determination to do the right thing, even at the ultimate price.

Awesome book stories! Thanks so much for sharing!

Not only is Jennifer the author of  The False Prince and The Runaway King, but also a series called The Underworld Chronicles which begins with Elliot and the Goblin War. She is also writing the sixth book of the Infinity Ring series. She lives in northern Utah with her husband, three kids and dog (which she sadly reports, won't play fetch.) You can learn more about her on her website here.  Also, she has a blog here, and you can follow her on Twitter and on Facebook.

Thanks to Jennifer for participating today!

For more Authors Pick Five lists, click here.

Book Review: Spellbinding by Maya Gold

Book: Spellbinding by Maya Gold
Genre: YA Paranormal
Rating: ★★★★☆
For: Review
From: NetGalley

I really quite enjoyed this book, especially because it tied back to the Salem witch hunts, which is always a fascinating thing.

Our main character, Abby, is having some strange dreams and feeling some strange things. When she crosses the river from her nearby town to visit Salem, things get even weirder. Because of a school history assignment, she has learned that she had an ancestor mixed up in the Salem witch trials and she starts to wonder if there's a connection.

And... of course there is!

This book includes love potions and spells, gypsy fortune tellers, quaint tourist shops, one boy in one city and one in the other, and of course, witches, both dead and alive!

The plot itself is quite simple and the resolution is even more so. It makes me feel like this book borders on the middle grade category. And yet, some of the events are a bit intense and so that's why I think it may be more of a YA. Still, it's one of those books that could go either way.

I truly enjoyed it and it was a quick easy read. As mentioned above, I'm always up for stories that have to do with the Salem witch trials and this was a fun and engaging one.

Bottom line: I liked it a lot!

Other Reviews:

Spellbinding is like Teen Witch minus the big hair, 80's clothing and Top That! rap scene. From Cherie Reads

Spellbinding is a promising entry in the YA paranormal field, enjoyable even though it falls a little short of its potential. From The Bookwyrm's Hoard

I honestly think that this would be a great read for a younger teenager. It is a simple plot and really clean. From Dark Faerie Tales

I found myself frustrated and wanted more explanation, back history and depth. From Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Top Ten Tuesday: Crushing Yet Again

The prompt today:

The Top Ten Characters I would crush on if I were a fictional character. 

Hmmmm.... if I were a fictional character, who would I crush on? I'm thinking the same characters I crush on when I'm not? Wouldn't it be the same? Or... maybe... since I'm "in the book" I wouldn't know stuff that I know as a reader, and that would make it different? Hmmm....


1. Well, I think Roar from the Ever Night series would definitely be one. Probably Perry too, but lately I've been thinking mostly about Roar. Something about that second book.... and I think it's something that would come across even if I, as a character myself, would easily catch. Don't you think?

2. I'm really enjoying Samm from Partials and Fragments. I'm wondering, though, would I catch his charm as a character? Not sure. Do we get a lot of his "emotion" through the narrative?  Perhaps. But I still think he would catch my eye.

3. So, right now I'm currently reading about Ed Kennedy again. (I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak) As a fictional character myself, I think I might look at him as the lazy no-good boy he sort of sees himself as. But when we are in his head, in the book, we see a whole different side. But, I'm wanting to believe that I would eventually catch on to that. I would see it soon and then there'd be much crushing going on.

4. I just finished Pivot Point by Kasie West, and I'm quite sure that I would crush on Trevor, because after all, he wears cowboy boots. He is, however, a quarterback, which would probably actually turn me off, but still...there's the boots. And dark curly hair of course.

5. I know I would be a clarinet player in the band, silently crushing on Joe from the Sky is Everywhere (by Jandy Nelson). I know it for sure.

6. Yes, I would notice Perin from the Wheel of Time, if I were in those books! Strong, silent type? Yes!

7. Gilbert! Of course Gilbert. Both as a reader and as a character. And Laurie too. The both of them, always.

8. Cricket always goes on my lists too! Fictional or reader, it doesn't matter! Lucky Lola! :)

9. How about someone from a classical book, not counting all the Austen heroes who are always a given... all of them. But other them those guys, how about.... Heathcliff! Gasp! There I said it! I would SO want to rescue him! I would be scared to death of him, and yet, I would want to rush to his side and fix everything!

10. And finally.... GEN! Dude, what's not to crush on here?

Yeah, so pretty much I crush on the same boys both in and out of the book! Ha, that doesn't even make sense, but I get it.

Do you agree with any of my boys? Who are you listing today? Be sure to link up over at The Broke and the Bookish!