Review: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Dare You To

Author: Katie McGarry

Publication Date: May 28, 2013

Publisher: HarlequinTeen

Genre: Contemporary

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Synopsis:

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....

My Thoughts: So I think I liked this even more than Pushing the Limits, which was pretty good. Heck I know I liked it more because I loved Dare You To. For some reason I found it to feel more realistic than Pushing the Limits. I know both books cover issues that could really and do really happen in real life, but I would guess that the issues in Dare You To are a lot more common, therefore easier to imagine for me.

I really liked Beth's story and think that it's a very common one. There are a lot of kids out there who are in similar situations. I felt bad for Beth because she has had a rough go of it. She has complete trust issues because anyone she has ever trusted has left her. Isaiah is the only one that she has who she can trust. He's her best friend. Then everything changes and she ends up living with her uncle, who also abandoned her. She is bitter towards him and hates that she's been moved to a new town, her hometown, back with all the people who judged her family to begin with.

Ryan is a sweet guy. He's a jock, which makes you think he's going to be a jerk, Beth sure thinks that, but he turns out to be really nice and actually really likes Beth. He has his own issues at home, which whilre they aren't as bad as Beth's, they are still not ideal and very realistic. His dad is pushing him into going pro, his brother announced he was gay and his dad basically disowned him. Life gets pretty crappy for Ryan.

Luckily, Katie McGarry does another wonderful job with creating a story that you can get lost in. I certainly had a hard time putting it down and again the ending was somewhat heart breaking. There were some pretty tough decisions to be made but I love how it turned out in the end. I'm really looking forward to the next book which is in Isaiah's PoV. It really is a wonderful read!

Owl Post (54)

Owl Post is a weekly feature at Owl Read It where we let you know what new books we got in the past week, as well as recap reviews posted during the week. It is inspired by  The Story Siren's In My Mailbox Meme.

Jenn's Haul:

I got two books this week! Thank you Thomas Allen and Son!

Meghan's Haul:
I'm empty handed this week =P. Luckily the Jenn & Kristal have some great book to share this week!

Kristal's Haul:

I finally cashed in on my birthday (May 24th :P ) and got these awesome books on Tuesday:

  

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

Goddess by Josephine Angelini

Soul Screamers: Volume Two by Rachel Vincent

I also ordered this today and can't wait for it to be delivered.  Ryan Buell is one of my favourite people:

Paranormal State by Ruan Buell

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Reviews from this week:

The Girl with the Iron Touch by Kady Cross

Meghan's Review

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

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What new reads did you get this week?

Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Evolution of Mara Dyer
Mara Dyer #2

Author: Michelle Hodkin

Publication Date: October 23, 2012

Publisher: Simon & Shuster Books for Young Readers

Genre: Paranormal

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Synopsis:

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.
She can’t.
She used to think her problems were all in her head.
They aren’t.
She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.
She’s wrong.
In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

My Thoughts: Okay, so my fellow blogger and friend, Jenn, has been trying to get me to read this series for what seems like forever.  For whatever reason, I kept putting it off.  I even bought the first book while it was on sale a while back but it has been sitting on my bookshelf ever since, just collecting dust.  Then, my daughter ran off with my e-reader and I turned to my bookshelf and there it sat.  So, I picked up the first book and I am glad I did.  I was so impressed with the first that I continued on to this novel right after and now I am waiting in stunned anticipation for the third, set to be released in October 2013 last I checked.

This book series is definitely different.  The main character, Mara Dyer, is pretty much certifiable - even when you are in her head since it is first person. She is going through a lot of paranormal stuff, that is true, but she is also pretty insane if you ask me.  There are moments of clarity and I think, "Wow, maybe Mara isn't as crazy as I thought she was after all."  Then she sees or does something else to make me question her sanity all over again.  I know some people may argue this fact (since, really, there is a lot of weird things going on around her as well as this), but sometimes you have to face the facts.  Mara Dyer is, in fact, at least a little nutty.  Despite this (and her hallucinations that are sometimes real, sometimes not) Mara had grown on me.

Noah Shaw is delectable and a trooper, I have to say.  He sticks with Mara through it all.  He believes in her even when she starts to doubt herself.  The fact that he has a supernatural ability like hers (-ish) certainly doesn't hurt him believing in her either.  He is willing to do so much for her it is just incredible.  He is so good and sweet to her and sometimes I think (she does as well) he is the only thing keeping her from going off of the deep end.

This series was strange, but good strange.  Following a first-person narrative when the narrator doesn't always know what is real and what is not and is constantly seeing things to make you question it is something that I am not entirely used to.  Of course, Mara is a little more sane than what I seem to be portraying in this review (although, not much more).

I am really looking forward to the third book in this series (The Retribution of Mara Dyer, due out in October 2013) and I am glad I finally picked it up.  I enjoyed The Evolution of Mara Dyer a little more than The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer so I can only imagine what number three has in store for me.  Loved this book and love this series!

Wake

Author: Amanda Hocking

Publication Date: August 7th, 2012

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Genre: YA/Fantasy/Paranormal

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Synopsis:

Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone's attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs. She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group. Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door. He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back. Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever. She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove. They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different. Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price. And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.

My Thoughts: I've been wanting to read this ever since I finished the Trylle Trilogy a while ago. Amanda Hocking has an addictive and persuasive writing style. She's really great at luring you in and making you crave for more.

So how suiting for her to write a book about girls who lure you in with their presence and voice. These girls show up in a small town and everyone is simultaneously attracted to them as well as terrified of them. They have a very commanding presence that makes you take notice and hang on their every word, especially those of the male variety. But at the same time, they are confusing everyone and freaking them out. But the former feeling definitely overwhelms the latter.

Introduce the main character Gemma. She's a really level headed, smart, determined and down to earth girl. Her biggest and only vice is water. She lives to swim, to be in the water, and just lives for all things aquatic. She's seriously addicted. She might as well be half fish, it's like she needs swimming to survive. She lives at home with her awkward but supportive dad, and her very controlling and protective older sister, Harper.  Harper is almost like a secondary main character in this story. She plays a really big roll in how everything unfolds, and there were quite a few chapters where we just got to learn about her own background and her own point of view. I really liked that and it was a fun added dynamic that kept the story fresh and the pace fast.

Everything seems pretty great with Gemma's swimming going swimmingly (hehe), and the boy she has a serious crush on just happens to like her back. But then the mysterious trio of girls, that used to be 4 girls, decide to focus in on Gemma. When they start hanging around and demanding her attention, everything gets messed up real fast.Those girls are bad news bears. It's a big old down hill slide from there on in, and it was great.

I guess that sounds weird. But I just really enjoy a book that never gets boring and keeps the energy and interest high. It's not easy to find fault in a book that keeps your turning the pages relentlessly. Amanda hocking and peaked my wonder yet again by taking on a brand new fantasy element. I think she pretty much mastered it and I really liked her take on these fantastical beings. I will definitely be reading more into the series!

Waiting on Wednesday (68)

Waiting on Wednesday is an event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly awaiting.

Tidal

Author: Amanda Hocking

Expected Publication Date: June 4th 2013

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Synopsis:

With Penn and Lexi determined to kill Gemma and replace her with another siren, Gemma's life is in grave danger...unless she can break the curse before it's too late. With the help of Harper and Daniel, she'll delve deep into her enemies' mythical past--and their darkest secrets. It's her only hope of saving everything she holds dear: her family, her life, and her relationship with Alex--the only guy she's ever loved.

My Thoughts: I've only read the first one in the series, but I really really enjoyed it so I am definitely looking forward to this awesome release :).