REVIEW: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Thanks to Lisa with DAC Tours, I was able to read this book before its release. This is the second book I have read this year from a debut author and I have to say they are bringing the heat. Brodi Ashton's first book is hot and dark with little bits of sexy here and there. 


Title: Everneath


Author: Brodi Ashton (Check out her website or follow her on twitter)


Publisher: Balzer + Bray


Pages: 373


Release Date: January 24, 2012

BOOK BLURB

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned -to her old life, her family, her friends - before being banished back to the underworld...this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath come to her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back - this time as his queen. (Taken From Goodreads)

MEET BRODI ASHTON

Because of two parents who were Greek myth geeks, I grew up thinking the latest fashion trends were inspired by Aphrodite, and a good conversational opener was, "So which mythological character do you most resemble?" Despite these social shortcomings, I found a great husband who's always my first reader. We live in Utah with our two young boys, who still have no idea why I'm at computer all the time. I received a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Utah and a Master's degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics. (Taken from Ashton's website)

WATCH THE TRAILER

MY REVIEW:

The main character, Nikki Beckett, has spent 100 years in Everneath (The Realm of the Shades) with a boy named Cole (an immortal). Cole offered Nikki the option to rid herself of all her emotions and she took it. Cole now has another 100 years to live thanks to feeding off Nikki. During "The Feed," all that kept Nikki connected to her life was the thought of Jack, the boy she fell in love with. It is only after 100 years of having her emotions cannibalized by Cole that she wishes she could go back to the moment she made the worst, life-altering decision and do it differently.  She can't. Nikki has 6 months to make it right for leaving without a single goodbye, but she hasn't found the words yet. 

Everneath had those moments where you travel back in time before "The Feed" and remember how your life played out. Sometimes the memories are surprisingly good and other times you wish you could change everything. Brodi Ashton brought out the emotional depths of her characters. You could feel the despair oozing off the page. The darkness of the story is what made me want to read it, but the writing and voice of Ashton is what will bring me back for the next book. Now because, contrary to my husband's opinion, it totally matters which guy team you are on --> I'm on team Jack! Why? He loved Nikki first and that love was pure with no strings attached. Whereas, Cole's "love" was based on need and for centuries he has sacrificed others lives for his own. 

My Rating: 4 Stars

This book is ready to be picked up at your local bookstore or nearest e-reader, so go out and get it.  Also if you would like to see what others on this DAC Tour had to say about the book check out the other reviewers on the Everneath Book Tour:

Emilia (The Story Seekers)

Cindy (Oodles Of Books)

Jennifer (Ficticious Musings)

Lindsay (Just Another Book Addict)

Happy Reading!


Michelle

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REVIEW: Double Clutch by Liz Reinhardt

What happens when you fall for the perfect guy...twice...in one day? Brenna Blixen spent her freshman year homeschooling in Denmark; now that she's back in the States, she's determined to make her sophomore year unforgettable. And by unforgettable, she imagined awesome classes, fun friendships, and maybe a little romance. What she got was a whole lot of romance, and all at once. (Taken from Goodreads)

Title: Double Clutch

Author: Liz Reinhardt (Check out her blog)
Publisher: CreateSpace 
Pages: 466

Teasers:

"She had a mom's neurosis about the internet, basically seeing it as a huge pool where pedophiles swam and lured unsuspecting children in their little floaties to the scary deep end." - pg. 104


"Every word he said, every action he made would be to trip me up, keep me on my toes. And I was positive he would get happiness from it, perverse or real." - pg. 135


"I don't know what made me angrier; his arrogance or the fact that I'd done exactly what he expected." - pg. 157

My Review: 

Double Clutch is the perfect title for a teen love triangle novel. Two guys in, but only one gets the girl. Reinhardt has this beautiful way of telling the story of Brenna Blixen, a girl who has the looks, the smarts, and the boys, but none of the "I've got it all" attitude. Brenna has this easy going way about her and a loving family so you are just waiting for the ball to drop, but Reinhardt does not take the easy way out. She shows you just what it would be like to have this close relationship with your parents and struggle with how to talk to them when you are trying to become an adult yourself. Just when you are in love with how she develops Brenna, then you are introduced to the boys of the story - Saxon McClean and Jake Kelly. Saxon is your typical intimidating guy who is good looking, has a nice car, a great athlete, and really smart, but that does not want others to know it. Jake on the other hand is this sweet gentleman, who works hard, is a little country and thinks he is stupid even though he really is not. It does not take you long to start forming your boy lines. Just so we are clear, I am totally on Team Saxon so if we could get a little more steamy Saxon action in the next book that would be great. He is pushy, but I feel like there is a refinement about him waiting to be discovered and I have always had a thing for tall, dark, and handsome. Jake on the other hand is more of a project and the project guy can be exhausting after a while. If you want to know who Brenna ends up with you will have to pick up Double Clutch for yourself. You will not be disappointed.  

Things I Loved:

Great first chapter! You know those moments when you just are on a conversation roll and you have no idea who is talking, whether it is you or your alter ego, well that is Double Clutch chapter one for me. I found myself relating to Brenna in so many ways. I have been to every variety of school: homeschool, public, private, technical and even online. A lot of what she experienced I have felt too, just in my own way. It is an amazing feeling when you connect with a character like that as a reader. Another thing I really enjoyed was that Reinhardt created characters that read. I think it is a great way to lead readers to other authors/books. I also loved how she captured the teen girl emotional roller coaster.   Obviously not every girl gets all high and low on you, but a lot do. Reinhardt's favorite candy is Raisinettes, which happens to be Brenna's favorite candy too. I thought it was a cool way of putting a bit of herself into the character. Finally, I loved that Brenna made an effort to reach out to those others would otherwise not notice (Devon). I think that is a powerful message to teens who would read this book.  

Warning: This is definitely an older YA read because there are some physical scenes that younger readers may not be ready for just yet.  

My Rating: 4 Stars

Keep your eye out for the next book in this series, Junk Miles, which is available now at Amazon.


Disclosure: Double Clutch was given to me by the author in exchange for my honest review.

GIVEAWAY

Just so you know there is still an opportunity to win a copy of this book. This giveaway is part of the Double Clutch Tour hosted by Missy's Reads & Reviews. I want to make it easier for people to enter, so if you have entered on the Interview Post you cannot enter here but comments are always welcomed. 

Rules are simple:

1. Name you want announced when you win.
2. Your email address or twitter handle. (So I can contact you when you win)
3. Answer to one of the following questions: Who inspired you to read? OR Which author made you love reading again?

Contest ends 12/11/2011. Winner announced 12/12/2011. International Giveaway.

Happy Reading!


Michelle

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