Impostor by Susanne Winnacker

Genre:  YA Paranormal Mystery

Variants Series, Book 1

Susanne Winnacker's website

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken from Susanne Winnacker's website):

CAN TESSA POSE AS MADISON . . . AND STOP A KILLER BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE?

Tessa is a Variant, able to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches and mimic their appearance. Shunned by her family, she’s spent the last two years training with the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI.

When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, Tessa is given a mission: she must impersonate Madison, a local teen, to find the killer before he strikes again.

Tessa hates everything about being an impostor—the stress, the danger, the deceit—but loves playing the role of a normal girl. As Madison, she finds friends, romance, and the kind of loving family she’d do anything to keep.

Amid action, suspense, and a ticking clock, this super-human comes to a very human conclusion: even a girl who can look like anyone struggles the most with being herself.

This is a quick read that introduces you to a world where some people have special abilities.  Tessa can appear to be anyone she touches, and she gets the chance to help her team solve a mystery by impersonating a dead girl.

Tessa has had a tough life finding rejection from those closest to her.  So it's hard in the beginning to fit into Madison's life where she has loving parents, friends, love interests, basically anything a girl could want.  But once Tessa gets comfortable in Madison's life, she has to begin to unravel her personal life and try to find the killer.  Sometimes, it would have been easier for Tessa to forget who she was and become Madison.

This book's a really good introduction to a new and fun series.  Sure there are books involving people with special abilities, the good side versus the bad side, but this was fun to read.  My only complaint is it wasn't long enough.  And the love story was kind of exasperating.

I'm looking forward to learning more about Variants and see who Tessa's going to become next.

Challenges:  Paranormal Reading Challenge

manda-rae's Haul

Stacking the Shelves consists of books we received in the last week, hosted by Tynga's reviews.

I've had such a super fun Friday.  We went on a distillery and brewery tour.  Needless to say, there's been quite a bit of drinking.  But I'm ready for the weekend to start, I'm ready for my books, and I'm ready for some home cooking...

For Review:

• The Offering by Kimberly Derting
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• I really enjoyed The Pledge, but I wasn't too impressed with The Essence.  Regardless, I'm excited to wrap this series up, and I hope it ends with a bang.  Thanks goes to I am a Reader Tours.

From the Library:

• Fall of Night by Rachel Caine
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• Number Fourteen in what is an awesome series, also known as The Morganville Vampires.  I just found out today that the fifteenth one came out, and it's the final one in the series.  Say what?!  Gah, I gotta get my hands on that one now...
• The Prey by Andrew Fukuda
• Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads
• I remember absolutely loving the first book in the series despite its ridiculousness.  However, I kind of got burned with "second-in-a-series" books.  So I have a new philosophy to not read the second one until the third one is ready to come out.  Well, I found out the third in this series is already out.  Now to catch up.

For Review (e-edition):

Golden Dunes of Renhala by Amy Joy Lutchen

Goodreads

This is a super fun fantasy series.  I'm super excited to read this one, and I'm crossing my fingers that the adventure continues to be fun and exciting!  Thanks goes to Amy Joy Lutchen.

Trolling for Trouble by Olivia Hardin

Amazon | Goodreads

Magic and undead creatures.  Not to mention two little kids related to the man we're all trying to forget.  I think this one's been cooking with humor and trouble.  Thanks goes to Olivia Hardin.

Purchased (e-edition):

Stained by Ella James

Amazon | Goodreads

The authors I hosted for the All Hallow's Eve Indie Tour had some free books.  I figured I should try out their series considering they all sounded so interesting.

Selling Scarlett by Ella James

Amazon | Goodreads

This one sounded like something that's not in my typical genre.  But it has the potential to be enjoyable for me.  Guess I'll find out soon.

Prophecy of the Female Warrior by KA Young

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

The other indie author I got to spotlight.  While the cover doesn't immediately pull me in, I still want to try this one.

The Descent Series: Volume 1 by SM Reine

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

I believe my husband picked out this series.  Based on the cover, I'm trying to figure out if he got this for me or himself...

Glimpse by Stacy Wallace Benefiel

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Crushes and disturbing visions of the future.  Game on.

Aurora Sky by Nikki Jefford

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

This author sounds so familiar.  I had to look up her other series to figure out I've been meaning to read her books for a while now.

Awakening by Christy Dorrity

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

I must admit that I saw the cover and immediately said yes.  Does this mean I'm disturbed?

Homemade Christmas Gifts by Toni Anderson

Amazon | Goodreads

I snagged this freebie and browsed through it briefly.  It took me five minutes to realize this book isn't for me.  I'd definitely recommend it to homemakers (or someone with better crafting skills than mine).

Wings of Shadow by Anna Kyss

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Traveling to England.  Sign me up.  Plus, the cover's slightly creepy.

Secrets in Blood by Patricia D Eddy

Amazon | Goodreads

I must admit that after reading "vampire", I said yes.

Kiss of Fire by Rebecca Ethington

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

I must admit this one made me think immediatley of Twilight.  But I still wanted it.  Does that make me a sucker?  Guess I'll find out soon.

Sworn by Emma Knight

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Another vampire one.  I know I have an addiction.

manda-rae's Past Three Weeks
(I know it's been a while since I've posted a haul.)

Reviews:

• Just Life Fate by Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill
• Every You, Every Me by David Levithan
• The Rise of Nine by Pittacus Lore
• Antigoddess by Kendare Blake
• Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis

Memes:

• Waiting on Wednesday: The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead

All Hallows Eve Indie Tours:

• Ella James
• KA Young

Giveaway:

• Book of Choice (ends 12/14)

Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis

Genre:  YA Paranormal Romance

Phoebe Kitanidis' website

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken from Phoebe Kitanidis' website):

What if you forgot your identity and had to rely on other people to tell you who you were?

And what if to discover your true self, you first had to unravel a mystery so big and terrifying you were not sure you‘d survive solving it?

When Marshall and Elyse wake up in each other‘s arms with zero memory of how they got there or who they are, it‘s the start of a long journey through their separate pasts and shared future...

So with the description above, we don't really know what this book is about.  Sure, the main characters suffer from amnesia.  But what's the real story?  Well it involves a source of power, mysticism, and saving the day.

Elyse and Marshall wake up in an awkward embrace with no recollection on how they ended up together and no memory of who they are.  As they encounter others, they begin to notice something weird about their town.  Elyse sees people that no one else sees, and they seem to put everyone to sleep when something unpleasant occurs.  And Marshall finds out he's an outsider but can protect himself from the heatnaps that everyone seems to suffer from.  Long story short, forced happiness and perfection isn't all it's cracked up to be.  And Elyse and Marshall need to figure out how to stop it all before they forget the reason to be afraid.

In short, this story is cute.  I enjoyed seeing Elyse and Marshall's growth into who they were and leaving behind the unpleasantries.  However, once the story line was revealed, I thought it was a little cheesy.  Yes, it's a good story.  But the mistakes the main characters make just seem too cheesy to make me love it.

This book has a wonderful concept that hasn't been seen before.  I'd recommend looking at other reviews to see if it's something you'd like.

Challenges:  Paranormal and TBR Reading Challenge

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it spotlights upcoming books that we as readers are anxiously awaiting...

The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead
Genre:  YA Paranormal Romance
Bloodlines series, Book 4
Expected publication date:  November 19, 2013
Richelle Mead's website
Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken from Goodreads):

In The Indigo Spell, Sydney was torn between the Alchemist way of life and what her heart and gut were telling her to do. And in one breathtaking moment that Richelle Mead fans will never forget, she made a decision that shocked even her. . . .

But the struggle isn't over for Sydney. As she navigates the aftermath of her life-changing decision, she still finds herself pulled in too many directions at once. Her sister Zoe has arrived, and while Sydney longs to grow closer to her, there's still so much she must keep secret. Working with Marcus has changed the way she views the Alchemists, and Sydney must tread a careful path as she harnesses her profound magical ability to undermine the way of life she was raised to defend. Consumed by passion and vengeance, Sydney struggles to keep her secret life under wraps as the threat of exposure—and re-education—looms larger than ever.

I'm really crossing my fingers that this book will be better than the previous two and will turn this series around for me.  Plus, it comes out on my husband's birthday.  I need to order my copy soon...

Antigoddess by Kendare Blake

Genre:  YA Mythology

Goddess War Series, Book 1

Kendare Blake's website

Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description (taken from Goodreads):

Old Gods never die…

Or so Athena thought. But then the feathers started sprouting beneath her skin, invading her lungs like a strange cancer, and Hermes showed up with a fever eating away his flesh. So much for living a quiet eternity in perpetual health.

Desperately seeking the cause of their slow, miserable deaths, Athena and Hermes travel the world, gathering allies and discovering enemies both new and old. Their search leads them to Cassandra—an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess, protected and loved by a god.

These days, Cassandra doesn’t involve herself in the business of gods—in fact, she doesn’t even know they exist. But she could be the key in a war that is only just beginning.

Because Hera, the queen of the gods, has aligned herself with other of the ancient Olympians, who are killing off rivals in an attempt to prolong their own lives. But these anti-gods have become corrupted in their desperation to survive, horrific caricatures of their former glory. Athena will need every advantage she can get, because immortals don’t just flicker out.

Every one of them dies in their own way. Some choke on feathers. Others become monsters. All of them rage against their last breath.

The Goddess War is about to begin.

This book starts off with Athena and Hermes, both suffering from different ailments.  They're searching for another God or Goddess to figure out what's happening to them.  As they learn more, they find themselves targets in a war that's only beginning.  The gods are dying, and they will kill their family if it means their survival.

Then the book jumps to Cassandra and Aiden's story.  Two normal teens living the normal high school life.  Or so you'd think.  Cassandra can predict the flip of a coin every time, and she's beginning to have visions.  And these visions let her know that the war is coming to her.  She will be essential in this war, and there isn't a way to avoid it.

Honestly?  The story is good and fun to follow.  But nothing gets answered.  What's happening to the gods?  Why are they dying?  The various ailments they're facing, explain it all to me now.  I don't get any answers here.  But riding with the story, I enjoyed it.

Would I recommend this book?  Sure, it's fun.  It's an interesting take on mythology.  But expect this one to be an opener to a new series, not one that's going to explain everything.