Before I say anything at all, I would like to apologize for my negativity in this review, and just because this book didn’t really tickle my fancy, it might tickle yours. I just want to give my honest opinion, nothing else.

I was asked to review Breathe on digital audio, and when I realized it was by Abbi Glines, I couldn’t turn down the offer. I’ve read many reviews where people were raving about her stories, the characters featured within, and her writing style. I’ve been meaning to pick up some of her books, and when Breathe was offered to me, I couldn’t resist.

I was excited to finally get it started and see what everyone in the blogging world was talking about… but my excitement was a bit short lived.

Audio books are perfect for listening to when your hands are full, when you’re writing book reviews, or doing chores, etc. So yes, I do read other books in between, while I listen to audio books, because I can’t carry my computer everywhere I go. But while listening to Breathe I read a total of three other books!

I read The Vincent Boys also by Abbi Glines and loved it, while listening to Breathe (not at the same time, but you know what I mean)! It gave me motivation to continue listening to the audio book.

Breathe follows the story of an average teenage girl named Sadie, and a teenage boy rock star named Jax. Sadie isn’t only taking care of herself, she is also taking care of her pregnant mother. Jax is done with his tour, and is ready to spend his summer away from the cameras and fans, hanging out with his family in private. But for Sadie things aren’t that easy, bills are due, and Sadie has to go to work at a mansion, hoping to fill in for her mum.

One thing that really bothered me about Sadie was that before she even met Jax, she was constantly telling herself that he was this rich spoiled guy who is used to girls’ attention, and that she’ll do anything she can to avoid him. But I think we all know that this never works out, or ends up happening.

The two seem to always be around each other and throughout Breathe the two teenagers confess their love. They hit a few bumps in the road, and work them out again later.

To me, Breathe felt a bit forced; the story (poor girl, rich guy), and the romance. Having read The Vincent Boys and falling head over heels for it, I found Breathe didn’t match up as well. The relationship between Sadie and Jax was too much instant love and overall the flow in the story, and the background between the two main characters felt a bit rigid.

I really liked the entire idea behind the story. The synopsis pulled me in but the execution of the idea wasn’t really to my liking.

Again, I apologize for all the negativity but I just wanted to give an honest review. I have heard rumors though, that the rest of the Sea Breeze series is good, so I’ll probably give it another shot, and see how it goes!

At the end of the sixteenth century, religious upheaval brings fear, superstition, and doubt to the lives of mortals. Yet unbeknownst to them, another world lies just beyond the Veil: the realm of the Sithe, a fierce and beautiful people for whom a full-mortal life is but the blink of an eye. The Veil protects and hides their world…but it is fraying at the edges, and not all think it should be repaired. 

Discarded by his mother and ignored by his father, sixteen-year-old Seth MacGregor has grown up half wild in his father’s fortress, with only his idolized older brother, Conal, for family. When Conal quarrels with the Sithe queen and is forced into exile in the full-mortal world, Seth volunteers to go with him.

But life beyond the Veil is even more dangerous than they expected, and Seth and Conal soon find themselves embroiled in a witch-hunt—in which they are the quarry. Trapped between the queen’s machinations at home and the superstitious violence of the otherworld, Seth must act before both of them are fed to the witch-hunters’ fires…

Hardcover, 368 pages  Published February 19th 2013 by Tor Books (first published 2010)

In his youth Seth is an outcast in his own village and his older half brother Conal takes him under his wing. It’s not long before Seth develops an unbreakable bond with Conal and becomes tenaciously devoted to him. When Conal is cast out to the Otherworld Seth follows unable to live a life without Conal in it.

Beyond the Veil in the Otherworld, humans are in the midst of hysteria surrounding witchcraft. Under the guidance of Conal, Seth must learn the ways of the mortals and how to stay under their radar. When Conal is taken by the Minister, under the allegations he has been practising witchcraft, Seth must make the decision to show his brother mercy and kill him, or watch him burn.

Neither side of the Veil are ideal worlds. The Sithe are also going through a time of war and anarchy. Disagreements between Queen Kate and Lenore the witch cause upset within the Sithe families and sides must be taken.

It is a time of war and rampant paranoia. Love and compassion are hard to come by and laughter is almost completly unknown and most enjoyment found in teasing and antagonizing your friends for reactions. When love does come into the picture, it is more for companionship than romance.

Firebrand is a dark, depressing and often times war-fuelled story of the evolution of the Sithe and Mortal worlds during a time of darkness and fear. Though both sides of the Veil are dangerous, the Sithe’s actions are by far the scariest and the mortals have no clue what’s in store for them. Heartbreak abounds and yet determination to fight against the evil is what pushes the story forward. The book leads into the hint of a prophecy and hopefully book 2 will focus on finding the answers to prevent the utter destruction of both worlds. 

I don’t quite know how to start this review without getting sidetracked into stories from my childhood. Guess since I’ve just read this book I’ll go with my gut and be authentically, unapologetically myself.

During my first 3 years of high school, I hung out with the friends I’d had from primary school. It was the road of least resistance, however it wasn’t a chapter of my life that makes me proud.

I have vivid memories of the hurt looks in the eyes of my family as I spoke obnoxiously to them, of the loneliness I felt when Mum had had enough of my attitude, and would pull away. The time I was really rude to my LOTE (languages other than English) teacher and failing miserably because I couldn’t be bothered to study. Then there was the constant seeking of approval from my paternal side of the family, when really I needn’t have bothered. Some people can simply never be pleased.

Luckily, I had a little wake up call at the end of tenth grade and decided I needed a drastic change of scene. So I changed schools, found more genuine and loving friends and tried to pull together what little self respect I had left. I joined a cover band (was fired from the cover band) and eventually realised Home Economics is NOT my thing. *still isn’t*

It is now *cough* years later and I am seriously only just feeling like I am becoming the true me. I turn 31 this year… and let me tell you I could have really used a book like Lauren’s when I was dealing with all of the above… even if it was just so I didn’t spend so many years faffing around and making excuses.

Steps to Success is designed to be a quick read, though I suggest you use it as a workbook of sorts. You’ll find sensible, achievable step by step ways to becoming a better you.

Which, since the only person who gets to decide how you’re going to think and behave is you, you may as well learn how to do effectively from the inside out.

I’ve let my daughter (almost 12) have a quick glance at it, but she feels it isn’t relevant to her yet… I honestly think there are chapters in there that are completely relevant, but I’ll leave her be. She’ll know when she’s ready.

The target audience is from 11-19 however I think it will be useful for anyone, male or female, of almost any age.

If you take the journey through Lauren’s Steps to Success now, then at your 20 year high school reunion when people are saying that you haven’t changed a bit, you’ll be able to be extremely proud to hear it.

Go ahead and get a head start on becoming a Girl Above Society.

Read our interview with Lauren Galley.

Paperback, 54 Pages

Published August 2^nd 2013 by Lauren Galley

ISBN 0615834884 (ISBN13:9780615834887)

I received this audio book for review from Simon and Schuster; thank you! I would recommend this book on audio as it’s really awesome to listen too! I loved the reader’s accent. It made the story sound like it was read by Magnus himself!

What Really Happened in Peru follows Magnus’s adventures during his stay in Peru. Each adventure is short, the actual book I think is only 100 or so pages long, and the audio version plays for about an hour and half. It’s really quick, great for a car ride, or just to listen to on the side while doing something else.

Throughout What Really Happened in Peru, the reader learned a lot about Magnus and his days before meeting the characters we all know and love in the Mortal instruments series. We also get to see a glimpse of his friends, Ragnor Fell and Catrina Loss.

Besides those three, the reader also gets a taste of what it meant for Magnus to be in love with a mortal, and as well as little bit of Magnus’s demon father (Dare I say, that was my favourite part?!).

What Really Happened in Peru filled in the reader with some background information on a beloved character, but the adventures themselves were as exciting I hoped them to be. Overall, I still really enjoyed learning more about Magnus, before the Mortal Instruments series started, even though I wished the adventures weren’t so dull.

Seventeen-year-old Lauren is having visions of girls who have gone missing. And all these girls have just one thing in common—they are 17 and gone without a trace. As Lauren struggles to shake these waking nightmares, impossible questions demand urgent answers: Why are the girls speaking to Lauren? How can she help them? And… is she next? As Lauren searches for clues, everything begins to unravel, and when a brush with death lands her in the hospital, a shocking truth emerges, changing everything.

With complexity and richness, Nova Ren Suma serves up a beautiful, visual, fresh interpretation of what it means to be lost

Hardcover, 354 pages  Published March 21st 2013 by Dutton Juvenile  ISBN  0525423400 (ISBN13: 9780525423409)

Our main character Lauren is becoming obsessed with local girls who have all gone missing. They have one thing in common, all disappeared at the age of 17. 

Lauren begins to collect the flyers that are posted around town with the details of the missing girls. But one girl in particular has become a fixation. When Lauren begins to have dreams, as well as visions of Abby, she begins to look into her disappearance, going to places she was last seen, talking to her family and friends. But what really gets to her is when she begins hearing and feeling Abby’s emotions. Is this all in her head? Or is Abby somehow guiding her?

There are several missing girls mentioned and the story is also filled with research on missing girls in general. Although Lauren shows an interest in a variety of girls, the main focus of this story lies with Abby and Fiona. Her detective work is so focused that it puts stress on her relationship with her mother, her boyfriend and school. But the deeper that Lauren looks into the disappearances, the more danger she finds herself in. And to top it all off the visions are getting scarier and affecting her physically.

Nova Ren Suma takes on this topic in an interesting way. I would have liked to see how some of the other missing girls stories had played out, but we only get answers to a few. I would recommend this book for fans of the The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer books, as well as those that enjoy a good psychological mystery.